tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83725106802556346752024-03-04T12:23:07.348-08:00Best Curly Hair ProductsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398038697901494373noreply@blogger.comBlogger500125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-54154065182073030922012-06-06T14:37:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.192-07:00My new business ventureAs if I'm not crazy busy enough, I've decide to add another little somethin' somethin' to my list of to-dos. <br /><br />I think I'm glutton for sleep derivation or something because just when I find my groove with my task-load, I'm looking for something else to add to my plate. But this little venture I'm working on is very VERY part time for now. But I'm really excited about it!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKfpFqIJMIflojVa3-2HCC0-ByC_qKLPzvNwXPj4QAzZAUa5_zynh9TqKfrZeZ0dCDlB0cQNRRSCOpGBKhALmlyvCuq1KyFVLLO8Y6uR2PQBmm1WnYx10TYKbDmC_G-c41KTmkO7YaYw/s1600/austin-children's-photographer-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKfpFqIJMIflojVa3-2HCC0-ByC_qKLPzvNwXPj4QAzZAUa5_zynh9TqKfrZeZ0dCDlB0cQNRRSCOpGBKhALmlyvCuq1KyFVLLO8Y6uR2PQBmm1WnYx10TYKbDmC_G-c41KTmkO7YaYw/s640/austin-children's-photographer-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lil' J's adorable dress and headband is from: </td></tr></tbody></table>I've been shooting and editing videos since high school. I do it at work every day, and recently I upgraded my camera to a Canon 5D Mark ii. <br /><br />Rewind to having my daughter. I picked up a digital camera and started dabbling with still photography. I'm self-taught with the help of my manuals and Google, plus a workshop at EVO. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRKaHbKpY3nf-38NEpfIRWYG0FjarOfS9HpCVSsQc4oqghe5JZ_E2i4ZYKkNLFsZ3ki6p4gBJWt1NGMUbxgNX0H6rViLPdw12HvN6ChjYMgl5NUEiW6qY0QHUcN-rcx5tUJ1mR-QnYZU/s1600/austin-children's-photographer-announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRKaHbKpY3nf-38NEpfIRWYG0FjarOfS9HpCVSsQc4oqghe5JZ_E2i4ZYKkNLFsZ3ki6p4gBJWt1NGMUbxgNX0H6rViLPdw12HvN6ChjYMgl5NUEiW6qY0QHUcN-rcx5tUJ1mR-QnYZU/s640/austin-children's-photographer-announcement.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>This year I started to do family shoots for friends, and a month and a half ago I did my first engagement shoot. After seeing the results, how happy the couple was, and from all of your support and encouragement over the last couple of years in this photography journey of mine, I finally started to consider offering this for others.<br /><br />But here's the thing, I don't want to be like every other pop-up photography business out there. And I've been resisting jumping on the bandwagon of new mom+dslr+facebook page= photography business. I wanted to make sure I feel comfortable charging, and that I'm happy with my work before taking the next step. And I wanted to do a lot of research about starting a business.<br /><br />I'm getting there. I'm close to opening for business. I'm researching, and using the help of <a href="http://clickinmoms.com/">ClickinMoms</a> forums to get going. I have a 10 page (and counting) business plan and monthly goals for the next year. But there are a few things I'm working on that I could use your help with. <br /><br />Like I hinted to earlier, some of my greatest skills that set me apart lie with video shooting and editing. Naturally people may think that a family video isn't as special as a picture you can hang on the wall but I beg to differ. Imagine looking at the photo hanging on your wall, but also having the laughter, winks, and secret kisses that happened when the camera wasn't snapping. Imagine seeing some of your newborn's first blinks, and how she grabbed your finger. Or the kiss your husband placed on your little boy's head. The first thing big brother or sister said to the new baby. Oh so much you can't get in a picture!<br /><br />I want to do both, but eventually I want my main focus to be on video.<br /><br />If you live in the Central Texas area and may be interested in being in my video and/or photo portfolio let me know. Depending on interest I may hold a mini session day specifically for my blog readers. More details to come!<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp4VtDOuUvNDEtKtRfy7Fap2IUqSnWx24p5JB7Xd8ViOrBeC2O6YPnrCBT7iEzNOE1EticslCynIfXSLhirDGdWDuAFazNFx_1ym4Nu4_JrnCwwFqC39NCNOlLAahpV66tVliWjT15wI/s1600/Jenniferborget-facebook-page.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp4VtDOuUvNDEtKtRfy7Fap2IUqSnWx24p5JB7Xd8ViOrBeC2O6YPnrCBT7iEzNOE1EticslCynIfXSLhirDGdWDuAFazNFx_1ym4Nu4_JrnCwwFqC39NCNOlLAahpV66tVliWjT15wI/s640/Jenniferborget-facebook-page.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />For now, I'd love it if you "liked" <a href="http://jenniferborgetphotography.com/">my (BRAND) new facebook page</a>, and if you'd like, check out <a href="http://jenniferborgetphotography.com/">my website</a>. It's in the VERY early stages, still so much to add, but you'll get the general idea. Part of me is embarassed to show you so soon but the other part of me wants to invite you on my journey to starting this endeavor.<br /><br />I'm really having fun fixing up that site by the way. Wordpress is a breeze, I may have to consider switching this blog over too!<br /><br />Also, a big huge thank you to <a href="http://www.cecijane.net/">Ceci Jane</a> for her inspiration and helpfulness. She called me and let me pick her brain about her videography business in Dallas! Thanks to <a href="http://veronicaarmstrong.com/">Veronica</a> for nagging me about making a business plan, it's really helped me find a focus and get the ball rolling. Thanks <a href="http://foreverblissphotography.com/">Tara</a> for being such a great friend and mentor the whole time I've been learning how to rock my camera as well as you do!. And thank you Heidi, Laura and Allisa for letting me text you at all hours of the day and run my ideas by you and for always being so encouraging.<br /><br />You'd think I won an Oscar or something, but really, I'm just excited to have made it this far. Let's see how far we can go!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-16526265492909578502012-06-05T08:47:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.235-07:0050 Shades of Suck: Real Talk TuesdayI'm not typically one to follow the crowd, nor am I one who would attempt to read a romantic novel, but curiosity got the best of me when it came to this book.<br /><br />I first heard about it on a local radio show when one of the DJs lost a best and had to read it and report back about it on the show along the way.<br /><br />Then I saw a Saturday Night Live skit about Amazon and 50 Shades of Grey. I haven't even read the book but I had heard enough hype to understand the joke.<br /><br />Then I heard it was Twilight fan-fiction and got REALLY confused. What? It's another vampire book? No.<br /><br />A friend of mine scooped up the series and texted me for an entire week about the spicy book. But I was not going to give in.<br /><br />Finally, during my trip to Atlanta, the novel came up yet again at the dinner table. Everyone who had read it was raving about how good it was.<br /><br />I had to ask the question: Why?<br /><br />Some call it a love story, but admit it's got a kinky spicy side. Others read it for that side and claim their husbands appreciate the... Uh, inspiration?<br /><br />I was morally torn about this dang book, but a bit of peer pressure, a couple nights alone in a hotel, and my innate desire to get to the bottom of things got the best of me, and I bought the book on my iPad.<br /><br />Mind you, this was after I read about 15 1-star reviews on Amazon, all saying how much the writing sucked and how there's no real storyline. I had nothing to lose... Ok, well just $10. Other than that I had nothing to lose.<br /><br />Typically my style of book is historical fiction, or any kind of fiction really. Currently I had been reading the second Percy Jackson series--Heroes of Olympus. Sure, it's written for 13-year-olds, but it's written dang well, and it's captivating and exciting. I set that book aside to pick up 50 Shades... An entirely different kind of book.<br /><br />I sped through the first five chapters trying to understand the story yet get to the good part. Immediately I noticed the inferior writing compared to what I'm used to reading. Words like "murmur" and "medulla oblongata" shouldn't be used more than once in a book, much less in the first seven chapters. I didn't think "bad writing" would annoy me so much but it annoyed me to the point of being unable to enjoy the story.<br /><br />Some people say Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books weren't written well... They haven't seen nothin' yet.<br /><br />On the flight back home the pregnant woman next to me pulled out noise cancellation headphones, and 50 Shades of Grey. I saw she was getting toward the end and couldn't help but ask her if it gets better.<br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />"Same story different chapter" is what she told me.<br /><br />I forced myself to make it through the first "hot" scene, but eight chapters in I was less than thrilled and decided to hang it up. <br /><br />Maybe I'm giving the book a hard time. Perhaps if I wasn't thinking about it as being a professionally edited and written book--if I read it thinking of it as fan-fiction or a blog, I could enjoy it more. Either way, I decided to go back to my middle-school books involving Greek mythology and demigods because I'd rather read a good book for kids than a sucky book that reads like it was written by a kid.<br /><br />I know I'm not the only one who doesn't get the hype, but it seems I'm in the minority. Every day I come across Facebook posts about the it, and SomeCards on Pinterest that giggle at their own obsession over these books. It seems as though everyone and their cousin loves it. To me it just felt like 50 shades of suck. <b> <i>Edited to add: For those who haven't read it, the first 7/8 chapters I read were boring compared to what I've heard was coming. I didn't make it far enough to get to any kinky stuff and the one steamy part I did read wasn't much of anything you wouldn't find in another adult book with a love story... Except with lame writing. Also, the fact that I'm semi-prudish may have affected my opinion. But trut me, from what I read, you ain't missin nothin.</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-79081181902626831452012-06-04T04:53:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.251-07:00How to make easy hanging shelves for kids room: What I'm Makin' MondayI saw the cutest image on Pinterest of these hanging wall shelves. I followed the link and found pictures of an adorable little girls room, but no tutorial for these cute hanging shelves, but it looked simple enough so I decided to try it myself.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmASwTyVdGnzaU0n7SjWgMbVO4tuw5eBxy-Q5zlE0SuxtAnELus-nsI1hM_zL21-xeSMttr-rfAcsfwDWhdInsUDdU-u6N7Id90TjRVphyeyJyH2OkqsINXAhX2QU7ekriGjaOYDpWn5FU/s1600/stuffed+animal+storage+shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmASwTyVdGnzaU0n7SjWgMbVO4tuw5eBxy-Q5zlE0SuxtAnELus-nsI1hM_zL21-xeSMttr-rfAcsfwDWhdInsUDdU-u6N7Id90TjRVphyeyJyH2OkqsINXAhX2QU7ekriGjaOYDpWn5FU/s1600/stuffed+animal+storage+shelves.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.beeskneesbungalow.com/2011/06/bachmans-2011-summer-ideas-house-pt-iii.html">Bees Knees Bungalow</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/babymakingmama/order-in-the-court-organization/">Order in the Court! -Organization</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/181903272419597705/">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table>My first idea was to use fabric like in the picture, but after a long week of work I was too lazy to cut and sew a bunch of fabric so I decided I'd make it even easier--A four-step process that'll get you some cute shelves for less than $5.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqEiNJH4e0a8WVIWBwtVl6YRVLvbJt1hQOc6Lx2zoEx0behDLGct_zfiY1aBuWKQT753mud06rvp0MAglQnCYzetKScYyUq6hnwxnTCTYAJf1vXUi6RKkbmCX8ZkVjVHvWrCioQrUQ9yh/s1600/DIY-hanging-shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqEiNJH4e0a8WVIWBwtVl6YRVLvbJt1hQOc6Lx2zoEx0behDLGct_zfiY1aBuWKQT753mud06rvp0MAglQnCYzetKScYyUq6hnwxnTCTYAJf1vXUi6RKkbmCX8ZkVjVHvWrCioQrUQ9yh/s640/DIY-hanging-shelves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I like it because it's a quick and easy way to decorate a wall and hang stuffed animals and other light things we might want on display. I've never been good at hanging real shelves on the wall, with all the extra mounts and screws needed, big gaping holes my husband hates, so this works great! And they look like fun little swings for your stuffed animals.<br /><br />All you need is some wood planks, ribbon (or fabric), and D-rings.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkTMI77QkFZnVOhdcQjtjUyMjIHKDqJK27j33MX30ylkrcnsEqc2uToEe3x3acCXWQkV8WIqoA1qWtF3HcCCpXvKREJZTz0U4mnb3N9STPnB8dbTCRz-7em76Od38ovyevHEDQGdmMLJc/s1600/DIY-ribbon-shelves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkTMI77QkFZnVOhdcQjtjUyMjIHKDqJK27j33MX30ylkrcnsEqc2uToEe3x3acCXWQkV8WIqoA1qWtF3HcCCpXvKREJZTz0U4mnb3N9STPnB8dbTCRz-7em76Od38ovyevHEDQGdmMLJc/s400/DIY-ribbon-shelves.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I got about 1.5in D-rings (you can get these at craft stores or online for way cheaper, I got brass as Home Depot which ended up costing a bit more-Like $1.50) and used 1.5 in wide grosgrain ribbon, and since I have SO much tulle I'm trying to utilize, I used some of it for these shelves. I started to buy paint to paint some 2x4s for planks but then found some 1x4in-ish primed wood that was 8ft tall in the trimmings (like baseboard area) section of Home Depot (is it just me or is everyone here SO helpful?!). I had it cut into four 2-foot planks. That was $6. So I didn't need to paint it (I may add some fun color to the sides later with my craft paint).<br /><br />So once you have all of your supplies here's what you do:<br /><br />1. Cut your ribbon/fabric. I did mine about 35in long, because once it's folded in half, and the board is placed inside, it'll hang about 15in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YEHx1Lz_RKmc9bzbzWlWAzhSPx9svHqhUXy7cc0LgH8XGtIM7xtNE9zG5_8zBkCw-QRTeajGoYTvViaYluh_VQKFdS1HfF6puRhJYv1kwpN2jD-eGP-LOn-2aNMvyWaOATfaehmhUTD6/s1600/how-to-make-wall-shelves-step-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YEHx1Lz_RKmc9bzbzWlWAzhSPx9svHqhUXy7cc0LgH8XGtIM7xtNE9zG5_8zBkCw-QRTeajGoYTvViaYluh_VQKFdS1HfF6puRhJYv1kwpN2jD-eGP-LOn-2aNMvyWaOATfaehmhUTD6/s640/how-to-make-wall-shelves-step-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />2. With right sides of the fabric/ribbon together, sew a straight stitch across. For safe measure I went back and forth a few times.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAIe2W0SzYDXPkz6OcCXA1-Waqqcb6Aucym3ZHOWzrjsi34_V9o7TJlFZFEjX8qxTFmNlnvNMBZWBnGkk6yWlRxs9sL7cp-IkyqFLDkctDwyy02lyDWUtkntk8mOMnF-o77fG9gpgxI9p/s1600/how-to-make-ribbon-shelves-step-2.1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAIe2W0SzYDXPkz6OcCXA1-Waqqcb6Aucym3ZHOWzrjsi34_V9o7TJlFZFEjX8qxTFmNlnvNMBZWBnGkk6yWlRxs9sL7cp-IkyqFLDkctDwyy02lyDWUtkntk8mOMnF-o77fG9gpgxI9p/s640/how-to-make-ribbon-shelves-step-2.1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />3. Place the D-Ring upside down, between the two halfs of fabric/ribbon and sew another stitch across just below the first line of stitches, sandwiching the D-Ring between them. Go slow, if your needle pounds the ring it'll break. One of my needles fell victim to the D-Ring.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30EqmndnbHfxRz0vlAB-NbQeOM4lI3tSV3b_ejleuBiWwv6mMg5NjqvnSjd3mPDEakVkG7oCQ3VAu3ztBv6cl95h5Kx4HfjGiMrnEcQPNjSOED4lXozeRjwr1jL9gyZ0-ajGFeYD2r4VO/s1600/how-to-make-wall-shelves-step-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30EqmndnbHfxRz0vlAB-NbQeOM4lI3tSV3b_ejleuBiWwv6mMg5NjqvnSjd3mPDEakVkG7oCQ3VAu3ztBv6cl95h5Kx4HfjGiMrnEcQPNjSOED4lXozeRjwr1jL9gyZ0-ajGFeYD2r4VO/s640/how-to-make-wall-shelves-step-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />4. Turn the ring and fabric/ribbon right side out, repeat process with another strip, hang with some little nails or hooks, add wood plank and enjoy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX-3MxvVk2xEL0tI5aLTsL9bUPW1xFFjntVf2UKtMZoqoSfcC6L2G2Jz7YLRi_Lnr87NSODoHMcD6f9_hkDuWVUX71POi5QYrcyp9Pm5j9AGEkHiA0Gh5qEKsVu1BbkjckJ7RMkpQuD2m/s1600/dit-hanging-shelves-step-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX-3MxvVk2xEL0tI5aLTsL9bUPW1xFFjntVf2UKtMZoqoSfcC6L2G2Jz7YLRi_Lnr87NSODoHMcD6f9_hkDuWVUX71POi5QYrcyp9Pm5j9AGEkHiA0Gh5qEKsVu1BbkjckJ7RMkpQuD2m/s640/dit-hanging-shelves-step-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">TADA!</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTj8WawEbgGysSjABWufwRzq57hMUK0loG5SRKLtP7mCtzTvIMjcyo4PfSatL6yWTGQOv6To6jSWpq4dqIzeyUUlcUtbKolDjQmDdy_TxNjTTGvNCOQT8obnMu-AYSQiUuVzXijIjm-fJ/s1600/how-to-make-shelves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTj8WawEbgGysSjABWufwRzq57hMUK0loG5SRKLtP7mCtzTvIMjcyo4PfSatL6yWTGQOv6To6jSWpq4dqIzeyUUlcUtbKolDjQmDdy_TxNjTTGvNCOQT8obnMu-AYSQiUuVzXijIjm-fJ/s640/how-to-make-shelves.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />What do ya think? They aren't perfect, but they're good enough, and that's my style when it comes to crafting.<br /><br />Please excuse my horrible photos. It was bedtime, so no sunlight, and harsh lamp lights. I'll try to take better ones for examples today. <br /><br />If you made something this week (or any week) and blogged about it I'd love to see. Let us know in the comments so we can check it out!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-36649865159083721962012-06-04T03:25:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.267-07:00Tell someone what they need to hear {+ Giveaway!}If you're not a mother yet, you probably won't understand what I'm about to say, if you are, I hope you know exactly what I mean.<br /><br />Being a mother is such a blessing. Sure, everyone here on this planet is here because of their mother. It's nothing unique, but that doesn't make it any less special. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_B64msqYv-1Tjavuicq7f-3PkwaIBb9zVpAng_VaiXmxUepHpmcb_WxuSHPFhN2KrAbsbSJ5rnGSoK9052fGW9Ua05KDACVbWf8UVti3opexSmCtvCGNiHW24fvnfBVbmrMnEedgyhym/s1600/mommy-and-me-silly-collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_B64msqYv-1Tjavuicq7f-3PkwaIBb9zVpAng_VaiXmxUepHpmcb_WxuSHPFhN2KrAbsbSJ5rnGSoK9052fGW9Ua05KDACVbWf8UVti3opexSmCtvCGNiHW24fvnfBVbmrMnEedgyhym/s1600/mommy-and-me-silly-collage.jpg" /></a></div>It's like I've gotten to hit the "reset" button on my life and start it over in a new perspective. I don't mean I'm living my life vicariously through my daughter, I mean I have an excuse to do everything all over again <i>with</i> her. <br /><br />From playing with bubbles, and tossing a balloon around the house, to smelling the bluebonnets in a field of wildflowers, or tickling her until she's helpless with laughter (at least once a day); these are the moments I want to remember. Moments I can remember now that I'm older.<br /><br />They're times she'll probably forget at her young age, but ones I'll capture, cherish, and share with her someday. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/7129275627_e2f09fbcb0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rba="true" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/7129275627_e2f09fbcb0_z.jpg" /></a></div>Recently Hallmark came to my town to talk to bloggers about our passion for writing and doing what we do. They fed us breakfast and shared their Moments and Milestones and "Tell them" campaign. When they started I was jumping up and down inside going "YES! I do this!" but the longer I was there the more I realized there are a lot more people aside from my daughter who need to know how much they mean to me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/7129294871_e8aa7acbcc_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rba="true" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/7129294871_e8aa7acbcc_z.jpg" /></a></div>The idea is that everyone has something to hear. For instance, I would like someone to tell me that it's Ok that my house is messy. That their house is messy too and that we all need a break from cleaning every now and then. Is that so much to ask? If someone told me that every day, I'd feel so awesome.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7129280301_fbbbde371b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rba="true" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7129280301_fbbbde371b_z.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We watched some videos about this campaign and I like a dork, I went home to watch more because they seriously gave me goosebumps. Watch this one! It's super short but if you're sappy like me, it'll hit home. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n-18CCzXTH4" width="640"></iframe></center>Awww! That little girl on the diving board asking for you to tell her she can do it. I imagine that being Lil' J years from now looking for me on the sidelines for reassurance. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy5Tsq3nfWKXvqbVXEkoK6y1uQUS21VnxGRg-66u-Xtna-luSiYyYP4LqNFHci6T0u_ZPaIll7sP-KlCiQFh2n53qwoTTDIR6lpUQFwTk_RM36_8khkcULtDRyPzsMv1o_Dm3mNsnY7K8/s1600/moments-and-milestones-tell-me-hallmark-campaign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy5Tsq3nfWKXvqbVXEkoK6y1uQUS21VnxGRg-66u-Xtna-luSiYyYP4LqNFHci6T0u_ZPaIll7sP-KlCiQFh2n53qwoTTDIR6lpUQFwTk_RM36_8khkcULtDRyPzsMv1o_Dm3mNsnY7K8/s1600/moments-and-milestones-tell-me-hallmark-campaign.jpg" /></a></div>I think of things I'd like to tell my daughter every day. Things I hope to remember to tell her again and again when she's older and can understand. Every day I capture a moment with her, and I share something about herself, or wisdom I want her to remember on my <a href="http://www.parenting.com/blogs/365-moments">365 Moments blog</a>. I'm hoping to print and bind it all in a coffee book for her someday. I'll have to make two.. One for her and one for me. (By the way, you can also <a href="http://www.parenting.com/mosaic">upload your own photos on their mosaic</a>, they're picking some to be featured in their magazine.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_B64msqYv-1Tjavuicq7f-3PkwaIBb9zVpAng_VaiXmxUepHpmcb_WxuSHPFhN2KrAbsbSJ5rnGSoK9052fGW9Ua05KDACVbWf8UVti3opexSmCtvCGNiHW24fvnfBVbmrMnEedgyhym/s1600/mommy-and-me-silly-collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />I always think of all of the things I want my husband to tell <i>me</i>: Why he loves me, that I'm beautiful, that even though I'm far from a perfect wife, he loves my imperfections. But the men and father's in this video made me stop and think of all of the things he's probably wishing I'd <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>tell him... </b></i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">That <i><b>he's a wonderful father, the man of my dreams, and thank you for working long, crazy hours in a pretty darn demanding job to provide for us, that I'm so proud of him. That I pray for him every night, and that I support him no matter what.</b></i></span> Sure, I tell him those things. But not enough.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bqkE9GPfQcZC7K2BdBkDu7B0DXE2t8CAT6ba3ooZaUR24OpUV1r0lhdmqWn0IIv2QyqqrIEIDuhl4-qeXO836C8XVyENF8xTeCPZRP42VCXlxBGBokXx4qzuiYpbcG9DMacLslgshG5G/s1600/blooming-exprssions-hallmark-flower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bqkE9GPfQcZC7K2BdBkDu7B0DXE2t8CAT6ba3ooZaUR24OpUV1r0lhdmqWn0IIv2QyqqrIEIDuhl4-qeXO836C8XVyENF8xTeCPZRP42VCXlxBGBokXx4qzuiYpbcG9DMacLslgshG5G/s1600/blooming-exprssions-hallmark-flower.jpg" /></a></div>I'm going to try a little harder to tell the people I love what they mean to me, and what they need to hear. I challenge you to do the same. Of course it's great to tell them face to face but that's not always easy or possible. You can send a text message, and email, a letter or a card. If it's hard for you to say things in your own words there are oodles of things Hallmark offers that can help. We were gifted a bag with examples of things like this, like a little rose that opens and closes with a push of a button. On the inside it says "You are the heart of our family." Lil' J claimed it but I helped her share it with Daddy.<br /><br />We're about halfway through the year but I'm going to make a new resolution to tell someone close to me something they need to hear. <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Like my mom. Sure, I talk to her about once a week if I'm lucky (I need to do better at this) and she knows I love her, I tell her every time we are hanging up. But oh how much more it would mean to her if it were the first thing I said when she picked up the phone, and not the last. </b></i></span><br /><br />My best friend needs to know how much I miss her. Because I really do. And my Heaven-sent new friends here in Texas need to know how much of a lifesaver they've been through all of our transitions. And you! People who actually take the time to visit my blog and see what's going on in my life... Emily, who messaged me the other day about my most recent post, another Emily who tweeted me and told me my 30 days plan (in 7 days) worked on her husband too, and everyone else who's ever emailed me about my blog, or left a comment sharing your thoughts, wisdom, laughter, experiences... THANK YOU. I try to write back and tell each of you how much it really and truly means to me that you take the time to not only read, but respond... But I know I've missed far too many of you. I'm going to get better about telling each of you personally what that means to me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNodVsoTEWtIKi6TLuDBlddblbekhVOL9TkjOQ3Q6CZ5KLVA_0pyi8TUFUJSrHD26lQY_VpTmn2219Pn1u3tWHPgJd39C45SjIUVJmimXvmBWtkYE13UPmKuHAjCWwL_CM3xXFUN01jJVu/s1600/christopher-hallmark-bear-book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNodVsoTEWtIKi6TLuDBlddblbekhVOL9TkjOQ3Q6CZ5KLVA_0pyi8TUFUJSrHD26lQY_VpTmn2219Pn1u3tWHPgJd39C45SjIUVJmimXvmBWtkYE13UPmKuHAjCWwL_CM3xXFUN01jJVu/s1600/christopher-hallmark-bear-book.jpg" /></a></div>After the even Hallmark wrote to me and said I could do a giveaway for some of the items they treated us to at the event. My favorites were the Blooming Expressions flower I mentioned earlier, and the Christopher Interactive Story Book and Storybuddy. I rekindled the habit and started reading her a story every night (my husband and I alternate) before bed. She LOVES it. We let her pick out a book to read and this one is one of her favorites. She holds the bear while I read the story and at the end of each page he'll add his little two cents. It's so cute! (He also sleeps in her crib now).<br /><br />Side note!: Speaking of their books, we got a Mommy and Me recordable story book, so she can still hear me read to her while I'm away, and I definitely plan to get one more for my husband to read to her while he's away at work. My heart breaks a little when I'm getting her ready for bed alone after several nights of him being home and she reaches for the door, and says "Daddy?" This way when she makes that request while he's working, she can still have him read her a story. In case you haven't heard of those <a href="http://www.hallmark.com/online/in-stores/storybooks/recordable-storybooks/">recordable storybooks</a> you can check them out there! I'll probably make one a part of his Father's Day gift. <br /><br />Ok, back to the giveaway! Thank you for reading my blog! I'd love to gift one of you with both the Blooming Expressions flower and the Christopher Interactive Story Book and Storybuddy courtesy of Hallmark. I promise you your kiddo would get a kick out of them, and all you have to do is leave a comment letting me know what you want to tell someone (or tell me) or what you'd like someone to tell you!<br /><br />Make sure you use the rafflecopter widget below(you can't see it from my homepage, you need to click on the title of this post to see it) to mark your entry. Check out the widget to see how you can get extra entries. Good luck! <a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-509b3a11">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-12340001283370712812012-05-31T15:16:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.364-07:00Or not... Update!!Not this month.<br /><br />My dates musta been WAY off cause I didn't get a chance to test. <br /><br />No worries though. I'll just hafta jump my husband every-other-day this month. <br /><br />And now I know Lil' J thinks I'm fat and sleep deprivation can make me act like a crazy preggo. This was a good learning experience.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-60047993966811187972012-05-30T14:16:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.376-07:00Early pregnancy signs (or not)?When you're TTC, things can get a little crazy and make you LOL while you're waiting for that BFP.<br /><br />I'm currently about 10 DPO but trying to wait until I'm at least 12 DPO until I test so I don't get a BFN. I'm expecting AF Sunday. Well, sorta expecting.<br /><br />When I was pregnant with Lil' J, before I tested I had a crazy suspicion because there was a lot of EWCM <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<span style="color: red;">update</span>: don't google it).</span> I'm sorta noticing that this time too. But I've had false alarms before. So who knows!<br /><br />Are you following? If not, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BabyMakinMachine/posts/10151017033267702">here's a translation guide</a>.<br /><br />Ok, I'll speak English for the rest of this post.<br /><br />Another sorta-sign? <br /><br />Lil' J climbed on me last week and said "baby?" <br />I looked at her and said "Yes, you're my baby."<br />She looked back and me, shook her head and said "No. Baby," and pointed to my tummy.<br /><br />I think this could mean one of a few things:<br />A. She remembered my friend's pregnant belly, us pointing to it and saying "baby", showing her one was inside. Which also could mean...<br />B. I'm getting fat. or...<br />C. I'm pregnant.<br /><br />That's not all. Yesterday I had a complete and utter breakdown out of no where. <br /><br />I got home from having lunch with Lil' J and a friend. When I walked in my husband was doing the dishes. I was going to do the dishes. He had just woken up from sleeping after his long shift at work. Did he think I couldn't do the dishes like I have been the last couple of weeks? Now he wants to help? None of these thoughts were logical but I was agitated and went off out of no where.<br /><br />The next several minutes are a blur but I remember throwing out phrases like "you're always sleeping" and "But you make time for the gym!"<br /><br />And the next thing I know I'm sitting on the floor in the office, unpacking some random box of tape, CDs and batteries, and sobbing hysterically. You know, like when you were a kid and you just got the biggest butt whoopin and you can't talk straight for half-an-hour cause you keep gasping/hiccuping for air? <br /><br />No? Just me? Well anyway I was all:<br /><br />"I...*gasp*... just... want... to... *gasp*... spend... more... time... with... you *sigh*." At the same time I was saying this I was having an outer-body experience looking at myself, shaking my head and laughing <em>'lady what is wrong with you?'</em> "And... *gasp*... I ... feel... like ... you... *gasp* don't like me. *sigh*"<br /><br />By this time my husband set the dishes aside and came to see who I was and what I did with his wife. ... Apparently I had given her a butt whoopin. <br /><br />The discussion ended as quickly as it started as did the waterworks. I actually don't even remember exactly why I was so mad. <br /><br />So, now I'm thinking there are a few possible answers.<br /><br />A. Sleep deprivation. I was working on a project for 28 hours and had only slept 2 hours the night before. <br />B. I'm pregnant.<br />C. All of the above.<br /><br />Guess I'll know Fridayish. Ack!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-61284847013986420992012-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.392-07:00Sister Wives, do ya dig it?: Real Talk TuesdayI told myself I wasn't going to watch Sister Wives this season. It's actually pretty boring for a polygamist show. It's got nothing on Big Love.<br /><br />Yet alas, I couldn't turn away when I saw it on my DVR.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLxmk66I1pzJjm8FuNW7josQwGT8ujNX3vzFMnZCkohJdvSMMz9rMCSchj5u7-fs-O4gS2fxxDUb49RWsaarwoMG2JBk8S3WaHBG6iktvoY_WtKHhYVnfc4_ICAdBrKBJK4exLbSdMnR9/s1600/sister+wives+family+polygamists.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLxmk66I1pzJjm8FuNW7josQwGT8ujNX3vzFMnZCkohJdvSMMz9rMCSchj5u7-fs-O4gS2fxxDUb49RWsaarwoMG2JBk8S3WaHBG6iktvoY_WtKHhYVnfc4_ICAdBrKBJK4exLbSdMnR9/s1600/sister+wives+family+polygamists.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20433952,00.html">People.com</a><span id="goog_1853786485"></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Kody (the husband) does strike me as a bit narcissistic and completely corny. It's strange to me that he expects people to accept them for who they are, yet the thought of the roles being reversed with his wives (them having more husbands) is repulsing to him. As if the thought never crossed his mind to put himself in their shoes for just a second. ... Then again, it is a man we're talking about.<br /><br />I've been intrigued by polygamists for a long time. I used to see them at Walmart all the time when we were first married and lived in St. George, Utah. I even dressed up as one for Halloween one year. My fascination continues to be fueled thanks to TLC.<br /><br />The surprising thing about the show to me is how normal they make polygamy look. I mean it's not like I watch and think "these people are nutso!" When they describe why they live the way they live and honestly share their challenges, it makes sense to me. I get it.<br /><br />It probably <i>would</i> be nice to have more family to love, a few other women help take care of the kids, share in the chores, and hang out with. Does that mean I'd want to share my fine a$$ husband? Hail nah.<br /><br />But if he looked like this...<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt5ORJHUBz73aLzxefGK6aYECiLjD4fkZ4oEBkEtaxqymA_WwtRF7NJWRR1fbDfwn06oIpK2rsIeV2lGrIp_goAbim0z_FLLCLvZ9Hbx2pvj5aH6bL9oJNMnmgi3x1pxHSJLOhxBhOHiD/s1600/polygamist-are-doing-it-right-250-thumb-250x250-769621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt5ORJHUBz73aLzxefGK6aYECiLjD4fkZ4oEBkEtaxqymA_WwtRF7NJWRR1fbDfwn06oIpK2rsIeV2lGrIp_goAbim0z_FLLCLvZ9Hbx2pvj5aH6bL9oJNMnmgi3x1pxHSJLOhxBhOHiD/s1600/polygamist-are-doing-it-right-250-thumb-250x250-769621.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via <a href="http://www.momlogic.com/2010/09/polygamists_urge_us_to_reconsider_polygamy.php">Momlogic</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Have at it. He's all yours! In fact, you could take my night with him whenever you want.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-28041613750140967942012-05-28T09:30:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.408-07:00DIY Kite Hair Bow Organizer: What I'm Makin' MondayFinally got the craft bug again. Moving took it all out of me, but a huge blank wall in Lil' J's room was driving me nuts and I had to do something about it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmXlYSIuVXRdZAXCbEkPasJ2vXwHYiajhu7iVXPngcbdVsd3kECwSGWPey0Rh9iUBeXZWbSjfWi9Dz5U_PSGO2kXnG0x5cZ4uJpiGd8L8CJllnGiFnBxxfn8z5qj_mH14lGNjfVHv2-_-/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmXlYSIuVXRdZAXCbEkPasJ2vXwHYiajhu7iVXPngcbdVsd3kECwSGWPey0Rh9iUBeXZWbSjfWi9Dz5U_PSGO2kXnG0x5cZ4uJpiGd8L8CJllnGiFnBxxfn8z5qj_mH14lGNjfVHv2-_-/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-3.jpg" /></a></div>Something else I needed help with? My bow addiction. I've realized I have a bow hoarding problem. It's ridiculously hard for me to get rid of any bows because right before I do I think "but it'll go great with X-outfit" or "I can make a skirt to go with this."And I hang on to it. Unless I'm giving them away to friends, I can't bring myself to toss them out or even donate them yet.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuiKcDdu52KKfrw_HHuxrtvmGLh_x6jbHfe_9Orrl8j8o9nBNUZ69p8PF32_nY5T0IHTyBtD8L6hRBh1UwHjiC8atRqnl3XDPJ9-PbQUKZFjStEFIl2WAgB6SRxmbC1Q_KYOhgkE91fzc/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuiKcDdu52KKfrw_HHuxrtvmGLh_x6jbHfe_9Orrl8j8o9nBNUZ69p8PF32_nY5T0IHTyBtD8L6hRBh1UwHjiC8atRqnl3XDPJ9-PbQUKZFjStEFIl2WAgB6SRxmbC1Q_KYOhgkE91fzc/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-10.jpg" /></a></div><br />I've already made a <a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-hair-bow-organizer-what-im-makin.html">headband tree</a>, used <a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-make-headband-holder-using.html">oatmeal cans to make more headband holders,</a> and a <a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-hair-bow-holder-what-im-makin.html">picture frame to hold some clippies</a>, but we still have more that need a home.<br /><br />Thanks to Pinterest, I found another <a href="http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2011/10/kite-bow-organizer-tutorial.html">bow organizing tutorial</a> that would also fill the annoyingly blank wall, and give a solution for her growing bow collection. <br /><br />So I've seen ribbon bow holders. Simple strips of ribbon hanging from a doorknob or such, that you can clip your bows to. I found a genius tutorial that took it a step further and made the strip into kite tails and the bows clip to the tail.<br /><br />With the amount of bows she has, and the amount of wall space, I decided to make four kites with long kite tails to string across her room.<br /><br />Here's how I did it.<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>I used:</b> Hot glue, scrap fabric, wire hangers, coordinating ribbon.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeCrGiYEJsZDw9gOf5s0FX01tQ5ihMJ4zoqH2bQkI-90w6UsD9M82ETeL2fUxJyT1iSBnLK7MTwSpW0rjSofCBBg1RxWWoDgRmRdd9U8jhKyQCipXpvqpkRz29A2a7CytkmcufZguQ6An/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeCrGiYEJsZDw9gOf5s0FX01tQ5ihMJ4zoqH2bQkI-90w6UsD9M82ETeL2fUxJyT1iSBnLK7MTwSpW0rjSofCBBg1RxWWoDgRmRdd9U8jhKyQCipXpvqpkRz29A2a7CytkmcufZguQ6An/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Step 1:</b> Bend the wire pulling the bottom part of the hangar down so it becomes shaped more like a triangle. Straighten out the hook too (I kept mine slightly curvy since I wanted to look like it was flying across the wall.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1gmTVJT-NkAlTA07704U3XMu0vRk2iO-iywfApi6vTzMwjLP91t7igUaFm2qMCCOv4zrAOjRoSRODbmnqWJHAhB74Az-kfWL0jZZM31XhwromDgXNl4ZXf0gs89sYZQUIFs8zIvfR-cV/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1gmTVJT-NkAlTA07704U3XMu0vRk2iO-iywfApi6vTzMwjLP91t7igUaFm2qMCCOv4zrAOjRoSRODbmnqWJHAhB74Az-kfWL0jZZM31XhwromDgXNl4ZXf0gs89sYZQUIFs8zIvfR-cV/s640/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />At this point, Lil' J already knew they were going to be kites. She ran around yelling "Kites! My kites!" After wrangling her I moved to step 2.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O_DHtMHojZUAVK1Y_7ZGIneyQi4cGbYQm_uGblCKhQU5VB733ENIU0Pv78iyZR1O7xEESPUmFj-_u_5b63F6NlBmWOn7pCEglJH-hvPaSlUfUzNmDDNgmxdTq-Ob6nztYXzrzEBVIMsG/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O_DHtMHojZUAVK1Y_7ZGIneyQi4cGbYQm_uGblCKhQU5VB733ENIU0Pv78iyZR1O7xEESPUmFj-_u_5b63F6NlBmWOn7pCEglJH-hvPaSlUfUzNmDDNgmxdTq-Ob6nztYXzrzEBVIMsG/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-6.jpg" /></a></div><b>Step 2:</b> Cut the scrap fabric to be about 1/2-1" wider than the kite shape.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ3g7xbRpMOaRz3HAWxbb8ejQ9ZeGqehBaxQSkVNJHm_UVqXBn3OrBDmQPQIJGRH8wdGRwBC3g9-F7wQO936kWtc0NExXiEVmC3YW7mDzNZlKehWL2EoBTG06nNgVHlZqraw3OrHYqSMx/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ3g7xbRpMOaRz3HAWxbb8ejQ9ZeGqehBaxQSkVNJHm_UVqXBn3OrBDmQPQIJGRH8wdGRwBC3g9-F7wQO936kWtc0NExXiEVmC3YW7mDzNZlKehWL2EoBTG06nNgVHlZqraw3OrHYqSMx/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr62M9kvo2zCT4Gk23avBEhEAoe0q5SqWzFvBmoiPJvVlzhuaQJ-pWaSuhBoyAqRF8MB5m7EPW3tkf9tQLb9-wCHv7gES__-nriMZsmCtl9xubXIisBS3tSzs9gTn5E4DTe9dKqHZwcQbR/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr62M9kvo2zCT4Gk23avBEhEAoe0q5SqWzFvBmoiPJvVlzhuaQJ-pWaSuhBoyAqRF8MB5m7EPW3tkf9tQLb9-wCHv7gES__-nriMZsmCtl9xubXIisBS3tSzs9gTn5E4DTe9dKqHZwcQbR/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-9.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Step 3:</b> Hot glue the fabric to the wire one half of the kite at a time. Pull it tight as you glue the second side down.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiuk_hqtd5sJrtbAas9tjFbnYnQSkcwzQsHp832tLFxTvZgKXuk8TDMbnroOqoS1tzZIaKt44UmZleOsvlMCOSI5iXerGd2pqULq1UIQoeP_jVNHI3UV7as-whwIbD6TRGFAakVVQWpw5/s1600/DIY+Kite+bow+holder+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiuk_hqtd5sJrtbAas9tjFbnYnQSkcwzQsHp832tLFxTvZgKXuk8TDMbnroOqoS1tzZIaKt44UmZleOsvlMCOSI5iXerGd2pqULq1UIQoeP_jVNHI3UV7as-whwIbD6TRGFAakVVQWpw5/s640/DIY+Kite+bow+holder+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>Step 4:</b> Cut and glue ribbon strips 1" longer than the length and width of the kite and glue them around the back side of the kite.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsy1U_ucMrzxDze-Q3o5G6ersahLHuIJt4RuldArzBaHbyol4mavHhm2vCFYcKMzXCbQ4wsjgXNphhXRtU9naCQF3IAVpYeOLBpILesnH6kQjcWcx7G13hMsHtf9Ns2CuP0wqGSGKU9rB/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsy1U_ucMrzxDze-Q3o5G6ersahLHuIJt4RuldArzBaHbyol4mavHhm2vCFYcKMzXCbQ4wsjgXNphhXRtU9naCQF3IAVpYeOLBpILesnH6kQjcWcx7G13hMsHtf9Ns2CuP0wqGSGKU9rB/s1600/DIY-Kite-bow-holder-5.jpg" /></a><br /><b>Step 5:</b> Cut the ribbon for the kite tails/ bow holder and tie a knot with extra slack at the base of the kite, then glue the ribbon on each side of the hanger hook.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJhlbPI8wFyFHm6x5mqQcIoxCnmWGTCFt2Q_T7tMYnvrnM_Hfd4WSze8mP_vhftFGZBcLWvu6fxetCV6vcyI6thNwh5DsJO37A_a5Ye80h7qMh7feckojbDGm1WAB4xpFk_toyunLxSzi/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-11.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJhlbPI8wFyFHm6x5mqQcIoxCnmWGTCFt2Q_T7tMYnvrnM_Hfd4WSze8mP_vhftFGZBcLWvu6fxetCV6vcyI6thNwh5DsJO37A_a5Ye80h7qMh7feckojbDGm1WAB4xpFk_toyunLxSzi/s1600/DIY-kite-bow-holder-11.jpg" /></a><br />Hang on the wall and enjoy! What do ya think? Link up, I'd love to see what you've been makin'! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/search/label/makin%20monday" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="What I'm Making Monday" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4571783992_a80397e7d1_o.png" /></a></div><div align="center"><form><textarea rows="6">&<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;a <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>="http://<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">babymakingmachine</span>.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span>.com/search/label/<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">makin</span>%20monday" target="_blank">&<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> alt="What I'm Making Monday" <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://farm5.static.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">flickr</span>.com/4003/4571783992_a80397e7d1_o.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">png</span>" />&<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/a></textarea><br />(highlight ctl+c)</form></div><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=136824" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-74532666977115604202012-05-21T22:02:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.631-07:00Kiddo fashion for TWO + Diapers.com giveawayIn case you don't follow me on Facebook and you missed it. I had a kinda-sorta <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BabyMakinMachine/posts/10150989495257702">mini announcement</a> this week. Yea. Kinda crazy huh? Not really. Who can resist another one of these?...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkp49mf8bGGai1_97tYy76oHnZNNi8cw57Mv4nlYhG01-rnnaZ1eaalZW5hyphenhyphencMQNKJerWgHWARWsywNarCYpZB9yft3wIYJt1NqtE6kAzHCBF-svD7w9Do1I0YSuSzHEypJL0H-YP439m/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkp49mf8bGGai1_97tYy76oHnZNNi8cw57Mv4nlYhG01-rnnaZ1eaalZW5hyphenhyphencMQNKJerWgHWARWsywNarCYpZB9yft3wIYJt1NqtE6kAzHCBF-svD7w9Do1I0YSuSzHEypJL0H-YP439m/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.diapers.com/p/oshkosh-bgosh-smocked-cotton-tank-dress-223292">OshKosh Smocked Cotton Tank Dress</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>A couple weeks ago I was plotting my husband's transformation to daddy of (almost) two; warding off neigh-sayers and men's rights groups (I know... Who knew?) who thought I was forcing, and torturing my poor husband into a horrible situation; and here I am in my first two-week-wait since Lil' J. My how things change fast. Not only that but two different people wrote me today saying my approach worked on their husbands! Mens Right's beware. Us women are on to something here. Forget "forgetting" to take our birth control. Whatdoyaknow, consistent open conversations can be <strike>evil and conniving</strike> persuasive!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpy6g67ECWL-KQOEQYlzmSIeK_QbhOo1bJZQbRYm7YsZ9t6LvcRdZaPzzZrYI9tUmhscbHYwKjHLeo5NudmOa0ObeRmVfL9nRhWMKIBjQ10VLtw-Qf3vWUJMiRGCLH7KifIjhEvBbicL2/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpy6g67ECWL-KQOEQYlzmSIeK_QbhOo1bJZQbRYm7YsZ9t6LvcRdZaPzzZrYI9tUmhscbHYwKjHLeo5NudmOa0ObeRmVfL9nRhWMKIBjQ10VLtw-Qf3vWUJMiRGCLH7KifIjhEvBbicL2/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-4.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinning in her <a href="https://www.diapers.com/p/carters-woven-dress-111922">Carter's Woven Dress.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Anyway, enough jabbing the haters, on to the good news...<br /><br />This time is NOTHING like last time. There's no temperature taking, pill popping, <a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2009/06/sex-natzi.html">sex-natzing</a>, stressing, or tracking. I'm going to enjoy being Lil' J's mommy and focus on her, and when it happens, it happens. At least now it CAN happen. (I say all of this now, but check in again in a few months.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYsJVVBZ7-tSnXKJkPKKtRyvv8LLgklNPWDM-ijP0iHddFJT0kWcwdAlkkTSZd2H3duOF1ID0NRkhnL0FS3k81fI3-2Bs8Xrf6awvNYk4RTgV7gExqPpq6DktGmV1NvajOVBSxrfU-TGs/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYsJVVBZ7-tSnXKJkPKKtRyvv8LLgklNPWDM-ijP0iHddFJT0kWcwdAlkkTSZd2H3duOF1ID0NRkhnL0FS3k81fI3-2Bs8Xrf6awvNYk4RTgV7gExqPpq6DktGmV1NvajOVBSxrfU-TGs/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-5.jpg" /></a></div>Sadly, I haven't had much time yet this summer to make sun-suits and dresses for Lil' J, but I hope to pick it up soon. In the meantime, I had a mini-spree on <a href="http://www.diapers.com/clothing-shoes?utm_source=banners&utm_medium=babycenter_D&utm_content=social_media_outreach&utm_campaign=2012_05_babycenter_clothing_blogger_outreach">Diapers.com</a> (they sell clothes now!) and got a few dresses and some <a href="https://www.diapers.com/p/i-play-swim-shoes-87495">swim shoes</a>. They have brands like Tea Collection, Carters, and OshKosh.It's easy to brows their selection because of all the sorting options plus there's free 2 days shipping on orders over $49. It was just hard to decide what to get. Aside from the two pictured, I got <a href="https://www.diapers.com/p/carters-woven-dress-111922">another dress</a> that should be here tomorrow. Now I have an excuse to expand Lil' J's wardrobe while stocking up on more cloth diaper stuff.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPeOXXMzperIan7fMnozgsdizlXOGN8ai5LmWQmMtFno8xZXFxUMQsl1JRFxIQS8OqppWhCdGqMzMlwrosNP21qhMOD9r31ZeUgsUYSUxIbRNH0DtpTcjkHnxJZ_6G_be41WXpwpdWHJB/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPeOXXMzperIan7fMnozgsdizlXOGN8ai5LmWQmMtFno8xZXFxUMQsl1JRFxIQS8OqppWhCdGqMzMlwrosNP21qhMOD9r31ZeUgsUYSUxIbRNH0DtpTcjkHnxJZ_6G_be41WXpwpdWHJB/s400/diapers-dot-com-clothing-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I already love coordinating with Lil' J myself (I know, I'm a big dork), so I can't wait to match TWO kiddos. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIbUcUG9nenQ8lUqnRT7IeJvW9qzNwEeFdLzcHrt3RXIdDX0gmUvtO9lZl6jE8-116L4L8Hqe3DM9WT3enLggNhe0iq5HcUj4HTP-5LBh4WHbQn6yimp9CVavqe0PB6uXciq28E_nS8jW/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIbUcUG9nenQ8lUqnRT7IeJvW9qzNwEeFdLzcHrt3RXIdDX0gmUvtO9lZl6jE8-116L4L8Hqe3DM9WT3enLggNhe0iq5HcUj4HTP-5LBh4WHbQn6yimp9CVavqe0PB6uXciq28E_nS8jW/s1600/diapers-dot-com-clothing-3.jpg" /></a></div>I don't have a preference for a boy or girl next time around and probably won't try to find out before he/she is born.<br /><br />I'm getting ahead of myself. But that's what I do. In fact, I've already created some summer looks for brother/sister and sister/sister pairs.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFqCf1Fx2JnBhz7AlhfsAJ1-p5fOWMS0gVVtcMmAIbt_6kAP-fllEJ009sl1UfJ-W0EQweQXZi9x4AJQmf0Ar9y9_9EnXj9iDozR15GcguvBQxAvNu4-pkExInXBXwJEcyoPySp3SZQcE/s400/toddler+fashion+Summer+breeze.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/summer_breeze/set?id=49400211">Summer Breeze</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMmEWjdKj2K4iFo0fYpe6OttVftdUYW7ESD6ZawB7YmPJWwynEySbCydDjkJPmj5lSE85o7sacf5ANuyjpZ4bE5nXvv-eEEpJMW98y7B6Mcd7B8IPc_9O669k8V7_Dl4cPaqX3aE-yRb2/s1600/Polyvore+Boys+just+wanna+have+fun+boy+fashion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMmEWjdKj2K4iFo0fYpe6OttVftdUYW7ESD6ZawB7YmPJWwynEySbCydDjkJPmj5lSE85o7sacf5ANuyjpZ4bE5nXvv-eEEpJMW98y7B6Mcd7B8IPc_9O669k8V7_Dl4cPaqX3aE-yRb2/s400/Polyvore+Boys+just+wanna+have+fun+boy+fashion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/boys_just_wanna_have_fun/set?id=49401458">Boyz Just Wanna Have Fun</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxHPLBI1WcM-3MzTxweyU3f-QMjI2rMkI84M2KwFvw42X8OTec5VqH1iX2YYcEkThvRHtOF37Slo6k_eI3AdJ1jGK8iKe8EXQNE2sp97d1YErkWEafItWgdlSOFIKyo0ADv7vOnbCV1FG/s400/Summer+rock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/summer_rock/set?id=49401102">Summer Rock</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPArrnH9uUX3HOC53SDEKQBI9tRyhkNU82SvpBk4AufZLCwBmD61R0atFPZkNvrLhEWyCrtp5jUhUExzbfanPH_jVUY-ZI112mCE1qtT_EvdLtOfZP2ACcyDBLVCp1uxbtAczGW7V4iwW/s1600/Sundress+galore+toddler+fashion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPArrnH9uUX3HOC53SDEKQBI9tRyhkNU82SvpBk4AufZLCwBmD61R0atFPZkNvrLhEWyCrtp5jUhUExzbfanPH_jVUY-ZI112mCE1qtT_EvdLtOfZP2ACcyDBLVCp1uxbtAczGW7V4iwW/s400/Sundress+galore+toddler+fashion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/sundress_galore/set?id=49400818">Sundress Galore</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />All of these things are from Diapers.com I made these clothing looks. Impressive right? ... Well, I thought so until I saw some of the others people had created. I used the Polyvore app (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/diapersdotcom/app_131434943568989">you can find it here</a>) which is fun for sparking wardrobe inspiration. I think it's my new favorite hobby. <i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></i><br /><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know which one you like best in the comments and you'll be entered to win a $100 gift card to <a href="http://www.diapers.com/clothing-shoes?utm_source=banners&utm_medium=babycenter_D&utm_content=social_media_outreach&utm_campaign=2012_05_babycenter_clothing_blogger_outreach">Diapers.com</a>. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.</span></b></i><br /><br />Easy enough right? Good luck!<br /><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-509b3a10">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>*This post is sponsored by <a href="http://diapers.com/" target="_blank">Diapers.com</a> in conjunction with the BabyCenter Blog Network.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-53166887939321911692012-05-20T06:22:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.736-07:00Coke: My choice drugJust so you know, I'm not a druggie. But recently a friend and I were contemplating how we can find time to do it all... Work, be a mom, take care of our husbands and our home. She (jokingly) said she'd have to take up cocaine to find a balance and time for it all. Lucky for me, a different kind of coke helped me discover the answer to my conundrum.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-3HXs4_DGTmbWHL6vW3wgYb37hD_QqHIcW9LuROL09-43r9SzrvMB7QIKI5PAog79gcAvGDS3DIsTpRTXCIWVuDWGmUYwh5ouZGZiw7xkCYF2DNaWlZM7Szy8ozuOIxnvBT30O56qciw/s1600/cclp-coke-bear.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-3HXs4_DGTmbWHL6vW3wgYb37hD_QqHIcW9LuROL09-43r9SzrvMB7QIKI5PAog79gcAvGDS3DIsTpRTXCIWVuDWGmUYwh5ouZGZiw7xkCYF2DNaWlZM7Szy8ozuOIxnvBT30O56qciw/s1600/cclp-coke-bear.jpg" /></a><br />First and foremost let me say that I was invited to attend the Conversations with Coca-Cola Conference to learn about their <a href="http://www.livepositively.com/">Live Positively</a> program. Coke hooked me up with a flight, hotel, and food. I'm not gonna lie, when I first got there, saw my hotel room, and the agenda, I had to ask myself what they wanted in exchange for all this wining and dining.<br /><br />The journalist side of me thinks "UH OH!" Especially with the recent <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/mcdonalds-bloggers-campaign_n_1497417.html">Huffington Post article</a> snuffing at bloggers vacationing with McDonald's. But here's the thing. Bloggers aren't journalists. Bloggers openly share their opinions in their articles and journalists do not (or should not). Some bloggers' opinions can be swayed by swag and <i>only</i> write positive reviews, others choose to write how they REALLY feel regardless if they love it or hate it. <br /><br />I, as a moonlight blogger, definitely have a fun time sharing my <i>real</i> opinions on random topics that I couldn't on air at my day job. So I enjoyed the trip as a <i>blogger</i>, with slight skepticism as a journalist, wondering when they were going to drop the bomb about what they wanted in return. But the bomb never fell.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdsGU8bY3uV6pQQ2ZDIJtZXlgLM_exW0LZslHV2B6GfHMGu5cfsREHtER2UAOp5GspaWE7uxOTqy4P23X-tG3iLXyLSYv-6hHPEqzcys6hoLQRVjx4Fbv0yR8boVLgusUuo0JF9sMBPeR/s1600/cclp-world-of-coke.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdsGU8bY3uV6pQQ2ZDIJtZXlgLM_exW0LZslHV2B6GfHMGu5cfsREHtER2UAOp5GspaWE7uxOTqy4P23X-tG3iLXyLSYv-6hHPEqzcys6hoLQRVjx4Fbv0yR8boVLgusUuo0JF9sMBPeR/s1600/cclp-world-of-coke.jpg" /></a><br />We enjoyed a free tour of the world of Coke, where we got to taste Coke products from around the world... Some tastier than others. Among them was a European drink called Beverly which as you can tell, everyone loved. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnhul4ujj6ovQ_6FAUGzQWX5hJqsxHKG_bA-U6N-dMBwFPsRfanqUT0yEqJ_y5KGsUCIP_WUkTJZdJFRhtt-A5Wm-v_XEfIRw-PDLKUm1IDX_FwKB5yYF6JNXTnabXiVt6YjuqFa4UJQf/s1600/cclp-beverly-drink-world-of-coke.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnhul4ujj6ovQ_6FAUGzQWX5hJqsxHKG_bA-U6N-dMBwFPsRfanqUT0yEqJ_y5KGsUCIP_WUkTJZdJFRhtt-A5Wm-v_XEfIRw-PDLKUm1IDX_FwKB5yYF6JNXTnabXiVt6YjuqFa4UJQf/s1600/cclp-beverly-drink-world-of-coke.jpg" /></a> There were also lessons on fitness and nutrition. Subway trainer Monica Vazquez game us some tips, and showed us some workouts we can do easily in our home. We had a plank-off and I won. ... NOT. But I wasn't the first one out.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNIpUlVGz1cWTBDXnokqCwXW34DY-yvBlQmJbBnwwJz2pvZuWHrJP5zjPBhf6NoeNX4ip64ylYsTJsaWYBaTTXe8f8R3ZawrY4vybtABf2O1_PwUqn5qzNtY3VV2mdDBXdDMCZoOAJ5YY/s1600/cclp-workout-subway.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNIpUlVGz1cWTBDXnokqCwXW34DY-yvBlQmJbBnwwJz2pvZuWHrJP5zjPBhf6NoeNX4ip64ylYsTJsaWYBaTTXe8f8R3ZawrY4vybtABf2O1_PwUqn5qzNtY3VV2mdDBXdDMCZoOAJ5YY/s1600/cclp-workout-subway.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVJXqz217IfcqkiuhCT4ojy49EclGjVmQ7nt-64cx0WqUEj0eRp9JDebrc7vRuus0dS4pXg0jzMwarpOBIYXDxfj34OoQd3BkXthVviJ-kaJQkB_IwcgqRqvXFshMXeAQiKqxCVI23pdi/s1600/cclp-workout-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVJXqz217IfcqkiuhCT4ojy49EclGjVmQ7nt-64cx0WqUEj0eRp9JDebrc7vRuus0dS4pXg0jzMwarpOBIYXDxfj34OoQd3BkXthVviJ-kaJQkB_IwcgqRqvXFshMXeAQiKqxCVI23pdi/s1600/cclp-workout-2.jpg" /></a>Some of the most interesting lessons to me were about building our brands, and learning how Coke is making a difference in the world. Thankfully, they didn't tell me I had to blog about my experience, or tell me what to tell my friends, but I did walk away inspired after some "AH HA!" moments that I need to write down and remember.<br /><br />Before going to Atlanta, my career goals were all over the map. Part of me wanted to be a stay at home mom, running some kind of business from home, another part of me was terrified at the thought of not working full-time and giving up everything I've worked towards. <br /><br />When I opened my agenda the first item that caught my eye was "vision boards." I LOVE vision boards. It's kinda my thing. They can help you remain focused on a goal when you keep it visible in your home. <br /><br />Funny enough, I forgot to snap a picture of mine and they're mailing it to me, so I can't share a photo right now. But it did have a couple pictures of Oprah, words like "balance" "quality time with family" and a quote about letting my daughter know she can be whatever she wants to be, and I'll do whatever it takes to help her.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter we listened to a Women in the Workplace panel that was the single most motivational part of the conference for me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaIceV7bMH-SweALDMAZfndJOkfPiklnaHvbB3DNkTJmh_KGBHtCfHYq4X-BDB00I3mzR4_do_cYb1j5G0E_rTU3VhEg11ePY8-671Qf1I5v4gVPxVyMJbISLlLN2KvedO5rKgxEoGQ8v/s1600/cclp-women-in-the-workplace.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaIceV7bMH-SweALDMAZfndJOkfPiklnaHvbB3DNkTJmh_KGBHtCfHYq4X-BDB00I3mzR4_do_cYb1j5G0E_rTU3VhEg11ePY8-671Qf1I5v4gVPxVyMJbISLlLN2KvedO5rKgxEoGQ8v/s1600/cclp-women-in-the-workplace.jpg" /></a><br />In front of us sat seven successful women executives who all work for Coca-Cola, and have some sort of family of their own. From single moms, to soon-to-be-married, to being caregivers for their relatives, they each have an important personal life that comes first. <br /><br />I asked each of them how they find a balance between wanting to be successful at work but also wanting to be just as successful at home and here's essentially what they said: Balance is a false goal. You can't balance everything perfectly everyday all the time. Sometimes you've gotta sacrifice a little of one for the other, but the most important thing to remember is to give your all and focus on the task at hand. When at work focus on the job, not wondering what your kid is up to, and when you're at home, leave the blackberry in your purse. <br /><br />I grabbed Wendy Clark, Senior VP of Marketing Communications for Coke and, one of the panelists after the session and talked to her about one of the things she mentioned "I'm a better mom because I work, and I am better at work because I'm a mom." This resonated with me, and when I thanked her for that comment and told her about my battle with guilt she told me our kids don't know any different. Her children have never known her as a stay at home mom, or life outside of nannies and/or daycare. It's just a part of their lives. She said it's important she doesn't ever say things around her kids like "I wish I was at home" because that can make things confusing for them, and make them wonder why she does work if she doesn't have to.<br /><br />A few other words that stuck with me during the Women in Leadership panel:<br />-Give your mentors permission to be completely honest with you.<br />-Stop trying to be perfect at everything and worry about what REALLY matters to your family.<br />-It's not a race. There are not finish lines where we're going.<br />-Take risks, and always feel a little uncomfortable in your job (it'll push you to get better).<br />-Define your own success and don't let anyone elses vision dictate your own.<br /><br />So much food for thought! And so inspiring to see so many successful business women within this organization. Their <a href="http://www.livepositively.com/en_us/polar_bear_support_fund/#/home">"Live Positively" initiative</a> not only does a million different things for local communities, schools, and quite frankly the planet at large (with recycling and such), it also gives employees a way to keep their families first when necessary as a part of their balanced living goals. <br /><br />Right now there are about 29% of women in leadership roles in their company but they want to continue bring that number up. And they have a goal to create 5 million women entreprenurs around the world by 2020.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5-W32MTqO924stLT59lcTM5Kr-jj7E7-Y2HGfyF-V-z0Yw-4BYjVVRM9Z9fEJZ1vUv_s9uM_STxzl6LPhAGHniF1XDXsb7kwPlGvmcxQBQZLugCbVXJ9Vugf4tqEZAsufGdGH-7zj9pd/s1600/cclp-coke-world.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5-W32MTqO924stLT59lcTM5Kr-jj7E7-Y2HGfyF-V-z0Yw-4BYjVVRM9Z9fEJZ1vUv_s9uM_STxzl6LPhAGHniF1XDXsb7kwPlGvmcxQBQZLugCbVXJ9Vugf4tqEZAsufGdGH-7zj9pd/s640/cclp-coke-world.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Between the conference and watching my favorite local news anchors in Atlanta, I came home completely pumped about my career goals. <br /><br />Once again I witnessed it is possible to have a successful career and a thriving family life. It just won't be a perfect balance like I may have hoped. No need to become a coke addict. At least not the white stuff. But a trip for the Coke Conference was just the right dose of what I needed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfOwU19pXVdXxAttMOZECOH3WMN_MU1Qj0AaeAhPxLZsIM62yweVMAej3VdyzszYNVVI3YoZwJ9j0K790CKe5pq7DD-FKd0Lu3Rhrlyf8fQBBFPFa-BnnKSAY-0rD6VhzNbXMuSoAURem/s1600/cclp-Coke-all-you-can-drink.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfOwU19pXVdXxAttMOZECOH3WMN_MU1Qj0AaeAhPxLZsIM62yweVMAej3VdyzszYNVVI3YoZwJ9j0K790CKe5pq7DD-FKd0Lu3Rhrlyf8fQBBFPFa-BnnKSAY-0rD6VhzNbXMuSoAURem/s1600/cclp-Coke-all-you-can-drink.jpg" /></a> A big thank you for the invite, the lessons, and the chance to drink all of the coke products my heart desired. I was peeing like a race horse the whole trip... Yet I still with I had taken 10 more bottles of that Minute Maid Strawberry Passion stuff home cause it was like a slice of Heaven.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-83805809037303437982012-05-13T04:43:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.836-07:00Atlanta boundFrom one thing to the next I tell ya.<br /><br />I'm originally from Atlanta and oh how I love it. I always wanted to go back there and work someday. My family still lives there as does my best friend. So imagine my surprise when my inbox lit up with a message from Coca-Cola inviting me to their Conversations with Coca-Cola blogging conference. <br /><br />They hand-selected about 22 of us to bring out to their headquarters, meet each other, show us around the World of Coke, learn more about their live positively philosophy and how to better build my own brand.<br /><br />Naturally, I accepted, then told my mom I was coming for a visit and bringing her grand baby.  <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ifIRSaCel7dBSBwJJs2gl9rWEfd3Px6PoCZl4VGvuS-YUOig0vzlrnAcr-dx6S5KjtTzn88sHbbqloZlVVgATWyOf9MFa9eXut5_AHbZGnVidmPeQKSA2S6yoZ_BO1i5q4Xryxnkb5zY/s1600/airport-airplane-baby-flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ifIRSaCel7dBSBwJJs2gl9rWEfd3Px6PoCZl4VGvuS-YUOig0vzlrnAcr-dx6S5KjtTzn88sHbbqloZlVVgATWyOf9MFa9eXut5_AHbZGnVidmPeQKSA2S6yoZ_BO1i5q4Xryxnkb5zY/s400/airport-airplane-baby-flight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our flights in 2010</td></tr></tbody></table>My mom actually used to work for Coca-Cola (on a totally different, technology side of things) so we've been fans a long time (we never really liked the other stuff). <br /><br />Since I'm off on Mondays and Tuesdays, I asked if I could shift my flight a bit and arrive a couple days before the conference to spend time with my family and they obliged! We're flying in tonight, just in time for Mother's Day!<br /><br />My younger sister Heather will be driving up from Alabama to visit too. She just found out she's having a little girl, so I'm excited to rub her belly and get Lil' J to talk to her cookin' cousin. My other two sisters may or may not get to skip school for an educational trip to the Georgia Aquarium or Zoo Atlanta Monday. My youngest sister, Kimmie is SO excited to see her niece. Last time they were together <a href="http://www.parenting.com/blogs/365-moments/jennifer-borget/day-41">they did a lot of this</a>.<br /><br />Then Tuesday my best friend and I want to get our kids together before I head downtown for the conference starting Wednesday Morning. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4TnB2rIeax_UowH1uLlU09Bpjil0ZqNqjheP2gi0D5TkzxZA4ghc0ytmk15UYxmbCCektm29Z3IWBkNZ6IHwA9wrIp1M42Wx-EJicnTBw3RGqCIrq2fAnoTHAIpf0kjsWyEEWbyKNIS7/s1600/cocacola+conference.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4TnB2rIeax_UowH1uLlU09Bpjil0ZqNqjheP2gi0D5TkzxZA4ghc0ytmk15UYxmbCCektm29Z3IWBkNZ6IHwA9wrIp1M42Wx-EJicnTBw3RGqCIrq2fAnoTHAIpf0kjsWyEEWbyKNIS7/s640/cocacola+conference.png" width="640" /></a></div>The conference should be packed with information and great networking opportunities, I can't wait. Friday it'll be back to work, but at least I'll be refreshed and invigorated with the go-getter attitude. At least that's my hope. This opportunity worked out great because I hadn't decided on a blogging conference to attend, and I like to go to one a year. Last year EVO was amazing, and the two years prior BlogHer was fun too. It should be interesting to see how this one is since it's much smaller and more personal than the others. <br /><br />Getting there should be another story all together. I'm pretty sure I've gone on more trips in the last two years than I did the rest of my life combined and I've brought Lil' J on all but one. Luckily this time I have my iPad, packed with games she normally has limited play time for, and I'm going to buy a couple episodes of Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba. That will surely get us through the trip there and back right? (I pray).<br /><br />So if I'm not around the next couple of days it's cause I'm taking a hometown hiatus. Having fun with family and making an attempt at building my brand. Then when I get back it'll be about time to start cookin' the next Spawnie. So much excitement packed in a week. I may implode from the thrill.<br /><br /><br /><em>Big thanks to Coca-Cola for making my flight, hotel and conference experience possible!</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-19487598045938957072012-04-26T07:14:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:31.940-07:00How one family's loss is changing my perspectiveLet me start of by saying THANK YOU! To all of your sweet compliments about my first engagement shoot. I was not expecting that kind of response and it truly made my week! <br /><br />The beautiful couple loved them and even asked if I do weddings but I'm way WAY too scared to photograph such an important day right now. But it's giving me something to think about and explore in the future. Photography has been a part-time passion of mine but I'm beginning to wonder if I can or should make it something more.<br /><br />My JOB job also gave me something to think about this past week. I was feeling uninspired. Sucky. Worthless. Not completely worthless, but just questioning what I'm doing day in and day out, and if I am really making an impact. Where I am and where I saw myself being at this point isn't exactly coinciding. I was having a "woe is me" moment. <br /><br />Then, I did two stories that changed my outlook. <br /><br />A couple of years ago, I read this <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/03/06/ST2009030602446.html?sid=ST2009030602446">Washington Post article about a fatal distraction</a>--Parents who forgot their children in their cars on the way to work. Their children died and they have to live with that guilt and pain the rest of their lives. So many people read stories like that and get accusatory "how could you forget?" "I'd never do that!" "What horrible parents!" but I had the opposite approach thinking it could happen to me. It could happen to anyone, but I want to do what I can so it doesn't.<br /><br />Earlier this year I started a parenting segment at my news station, and doing a story on this issue has been on my mind from the start. I just needed the right elements. <br /><br />As the temperatures warmed up the story nagged from the back of my mind.<br /><br />I did a little research and found a family who had a little girl about my daughter's age, and lost her last year after a hot car death. They speak openly about it so that they can prevent it from happening to someone else.<br /><br />When I went to their house and listened to them tell me their story, I fought back tears, and I lost to a few of them.<br /><br />I won't pretend to know how it feels to experience what they felt. But as I listened to the father describe blacking out after realizing what had happened, the mother sharing the horror she felt when she found her daughter, still barely alive, I tried to imagine myself in their shoes. And just pretending to be in their shoes gave me a horrible sinking feeling.<br /><br />I nearly cried while writing and editing the story as well. The most heartbreaking part to me was when Brett, the dad, talks about the ducks in the pond that were his daughters, and even though they have trouble floating, he can't bear to take them out because they are the original ducks that belonged to Sophia. <br /><br />You can read more about their story and mission at <a href="http://rayrayspledge.com/">RayRaysPledge.com</a>.<br /><br /><center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="278" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41039129" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></center>Here's the story if you'd like to see it, and get a glimpse of my "day job" and see one of the most important stories I've done in my career. <br /><br />Later that day I interviewed a young man, only 29, who was on top of the world last year, and while diving into his pool, he slipped and broke his neck. He also brought me to tears. I couldn't help but think about something like this happening to my husband, or myself. You can <a href="http://austin.ynn.com/content/community/life_in_action/284377/life-in-action--lone-star-paralysis-foundation">watch that story here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This week truly made me stop, count my blessings, and realize I have so much to be thankful for.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-79666609400937607242012-04-24T07:23:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.034-07:00Baby Makin'... Photos?That doesn't quite sound right now does it? Especially when it comes to taking engagement photos. I'm still working on some kind of name for my new endevor but since it's just a hobby right now, I'm not too worried about it. I did take a suggestion from some of my readers who follow me on facebook and made a watermark using "BMM Photography" so those of you who read know who I am. Still working on how it looks but I suck on graphic design so that may take a second.<br /><br />On life... We moved into our new place (and are going through binky withdraws, or as my husband calls it "crack withdrawals") but I'll get more into that later. We didn't take extra time off to move so we've been trying to unpack as we go, but the main stress of it all is behind us I think. Now I get to focus on putting things where I want them to go, and decorating.<br /><br />Just before our move a friend of mine told me her little sister is getting married and asked if I'd take her engagement photos. This was my first engagement shoot so I'm excited to share. Look past the ugly logo, still working on that.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR60s3PQ9dNw1AsDngmE3t5L8dOPzhDSkJ8nIfV7XvLxBJAsgiUkDhFacYgOZMliyL-imD1XFVTwa1Dlh5Ap87x9BIEZzt9lgt4RoW3Y3T_Pcl20s3IIVzhBN90xOqOuAxPPmeRsTA4hh/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR60s3PQ9dNw1AsDngmE3t5L8dOPzhDSkJ8nIfV7XvLxBJAsgiUkDhFacYgOZMliyL-imD1XFVTwa1Dlh5Ap87x9BIEZzt9lgt4RoW3Y3T_Pcl20s3IIVzhBN90xOqOuAxPPmeRsTA4hh/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-4.jpg" /></a></div><br />He: Is a fireman in training and former Texas State football player.<br />She: Is a 5'4 second grade teacher with a bubbly personality.<br />They: Were like models, and made my day.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhozVHnfN0Ls14wmKCdwflEr5W7HpRgrZzLQ3VLbVMy2fXHQ-BvKAE2DUnij0eOk_Wg8Gg19x7NDet0_y-EVDxzZLD6uBgTeDIGYpFKQhDn-UMdNj_rE7-IZZ121zUubmSQ-T2nVV7QMk/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhozVHnfN0Ls14wmKCdwflEr5W7HpRgrZzLQ3VLbVMy2fXHQ-BvKAE2DUnij0eOk_Wg8Gg19x7NDet0_y-EVDxzZLD6uBgTeDIGYpFKQhDn-UMdNj_rE7-IZZ121zUubmSQ-T2nVV7QMk/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>They had connections and got us on the Texas State Football field, and we took the others in San Marcos around the river. I told my husband I want to move there now. <br /><br />I told them I'd get them 20-30 photos on a DVD but I ended up shooting more than 500 and editing more than 80. There were too many fun ones to choose from!<br /><br />Let me know what you think of my first try at this! It's so strange seeing other faces besides Lil' J pop up in my camera.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi3av70WH1sGRn5UirYTu6y6HEvpRB0myvSRBB3-wZMlTw3qWKLRAoY0hLSRueaukePw6DZfQpyh4q-QJRcnNyG2V-uArqv4U1ggWpiV6F1tuhdJEp5-Y0ehl1g7S7bA-ZYBtY6_B2sb4/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi3av70WH1sGRn5UirYTu6y6HEvpRB0myvSRBB3-wZMlTw3qWKLRAoY0hLSRueaukePw6DZfQpyh4q-QJRcnNyG2V-uArqv4U1ggWpiV6F1tuhdJEp5-Y0ehl1g7S7bA-ZYBtY6_B2sb4/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsKqxR-0QnYU0nefbz2eIfwQaKGeV4ukVMSKnwfDkEELpc2pJuDlc87GDphIctMc2tQX0pmMswdnzVZJ1creapa3-aUbC92sS4t8TzNUMK8-Jsm60hgCeTd8PGKrPPJ5tv1XkHljbcpkP/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsKqxR-0QnYU0nefbz2eIfwQaKGeV4ukVMSKnwfDkEELpc2pJuDlc87GDphIctMc2tQX0pmMswdnzVZJ1creapa3-aUbC92sS4t8TzNUMK8-Jsm60hgCeTd8PGKrPPJ5tv1XkHljbcpkP/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUVzlZ5BcRi9tVVNMNK6WHF0QjB34JV1QmxCs2zcePjACDyD66y4Yc5ZSy4AhAtML5P1ijNpyHvUQcE8FqqYV11_kK28XVd09qw1KSmEnxBawjIwN0srB8vx88fl-MTMzReISAa3II5Uc/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUVzlZ5BcRi9tVVNMNK6WHF0QjB34JV1QmxCs2zcePjACDyD66y4Yc5ZSy4AhAtML5P1ijNpyHvUQcE8FqqYV11_kK28XVd09qw1KSmEnxBawjIwN0srB8vx88fl-MTMzReISAa3II5Uc/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik34_0Cn8xLVZJU-McH49Y18GV4mDQcfGSK9pOoghyphenhyphencsNX04HquJG2Vbxp36WE0xdggGG_dQjHy0Fl26-sSsQHNgH8vfRKvDRjD6nWFXmvW1_4c7JVRxUXAUSaZ8xUa11kTZcDEecMpD-8/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik34_0Cn8xLVZJU-McH49Y18GV4mDQcfGSK9pOoghyphenhyphencsNX04HquJG2Vbxp36WE0xdggGG_dQjHy0Fl26-sSsQHNgH8vfRKvDRjD6nWFXmvW1_4c7JVRxUXAUSaZ8xUa11kTZcDEecMpD-8/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi-YpvdZKx3Gy9LfLB9uhl_HMwREANtf_P8OtneyOv3Z0rawxv4x5HmEysWe1CQ3f5itRmoxidr5hjGbRiy-7_X9Iqlconfmayx5aHsQxElrCp_l_EsbFBArxucEzm5SC8uwH19QD4I1G/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi-YpvdZKx3Gy9LfLB9uhl_HMwREANtf_P8OtneyOv3Z0rawxv4x5HmEysWe1CQ3f5itRmoxidr5hjGbRiy-7_X9Iqlconfmayx5aHsQxElrCp_l_EsbFBArxucEzm5SC8uwH19QD4I1G/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqLIyymwmViXgjnDuvEPHBzpAwFHocuM8QItJa_0WcP_s8a04CIoyq5ufsQrE9_VInxj87R_IElGkFSpFrjj5rUCjCBvMSjP4t5zAO8TL51dJsE94WdNApn0wrLlFwbvqzRjVj1h82uUN/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqLIyymwmViXgjnDuvEPHBzpAwFHocuM8QItJa_0WcP_s8a04CIoyq5ufsQrE9_VInxj87R_IElGkFSpFrjj5rUCjCBvMSjP4t5zAO8TL51dJsE94WdNApn0wrLlFwbvqzRjVj1h82uUN/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-Collage-4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLlI-82XRaXY41B9hT7ZOtZtyRwI3dXmZPunw-yMGG6lYuAWkLqOg1qplk2ilNjN2qgjAAPb0uShmWy5B3Ukc6h-Ay8Cw8fA1C-PH01RkkHwwb_8Cg9KcENBb1_5PSzH4hx0nF4qyOJcr/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBmu3MuvDEFS6vsbylT03qutPl3AclT4bd8b8pGjMLUyj2joNs2dj5XQiQFtFsG3zFMY3aTahiSa1b358ubW4O4Vqc5TgmhsPX8gVDTelohiabpdx-7BZGTTBrH9L-TULH0mg8tmjGKww/s1600/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBmu3MuvDEFS6vsbylT03qutPl3AclT4bd8b8pGjMLUyj2joNs2dj5XQiQFtFsG3zFMY3aTahiSa1b358ubW4O4Vqc5TgmhsPX8gVDTelohiabpdx-7BZGTTBrH9L-TULH0mg8tmjGKww/s640/San-Marcos-Engagements-Brittany-and-Andrew-19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-83736163843495476072012-04-18T04:55:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.137-07:00Why moving is heartbreakingTonight is our last night in this place we've called home for the last three years. It's the longest we've lived in a single place our entire married life. <br /><br />I've been so overwhelmed with the packing that I hadn't stopped to think about what we're leaving. <br /><br />Our little two bedroom 2.5 bath Townhome was the perfect place to move. Close to my downtown job. A small back yard with a white picket fence just large enough for our Snoop to romp around in. It was a downsize from our three bedroom condo in Utah, but it still fit us well.<br /><br />Then we decided to have a baby and we quickly filled the space. Even still, this home is where I spent the happiest days of my life. <br /><br />It's where I carried my child, welcomed my child, and where I've raised her. It's where my husband and I confided during some of our most difficult challenges. In many ways, I think it's where we really began to discover ourselves. On our own, far from family, making a new home and growing our own family. <br /><br />At Subway this afternoon, where we took a quick break for lunch, I broke down. The tears came out of no where. I realized TONIGHT would be our last night in this home we've grown so much in. <br /><br />This afternoon was the last time our daughter would greet the neighbors who've watched her grow up. The last time she'd run next door yelling "flowers!!" while sticking her nose in them to take a whiff. <br /><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0S2jfjCDj0OvfUmuotXUxsmT222uU6rI6wYGrU8QxDUOVsxi8HyPTlnqa1-7TbiV_wZ5ezdalHbMTDCys2D4RQmWEOJxxjS-0VDK4BqnALmKYL0y0h6f5gsekxnqgHdeFacMndtrxoSb/s640/blogger-image--1429264347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0S2jfjCDj0OvfUmuotXUxsmT222uU6rI6wYGrU8QxDUOVsxi8HyPTlnqa1-7TbiV_wZ5ezdalHbMTDCys2D4RQmWEOJxxjS-0VDK4BqnALmKYL0y0h6f5gsekxnqgHdeFacMndtrxoSb/s640/blogger-image--1429264347.jpg" /></a></div>It was the last time we'd run across the street to watch the butterflies drink from a pretty garden. <br /><br />"What if she freaks out about the new place?" I asked my husband. <br />"She won't. We'll be there too. With all of her toys and things." He assured me.<br /><br />He laughed at my emotional state. But I couldn't help it. <br /><br />I've moved so many times and every time it's been much further than this one. But that hasn't made it easier. <br /><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHM719wMG_4rn3E002eCgJl46TO1wVesZlxH-uRswvKeyqiVglE4hGyKs9fCuU7f5cu5eTamN4Le5G8vr-Nr79RtjyRgLAydXNXkqaIH678-xU7ddsUVPZGIu0CXW95r4UUBRse1pshEa/s640/blogger-image--8767418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHM719wMG_4rn3E002eCgJl46TO1wVesZlxH-uRswvKeyqiVglE4hGyKs9fCuU7f5cu5eTamN4Le5G8vr-Nr79RtjyRgLAydXNXkqaIH678-xU7ddsUVPZGIu0CXW95r4UUBRse1pshEa/s640/blogger-image--8767418.jpg" /></a></div>We're going to have an extra bedroom and a garage, plus a nice yard and new neighborhood to play in. I have a sky high stack of boxes full of my things, my two favorite people and our favorite fur ball coming with me, but I still feel like I'm leaving a part of me behind.<br /><br />What keeps me moving forward (aside from that April 30th deadline) is the hope and excitement for a new batch of memories. New adventures with my husband, new babies (if I'm lucky), and lots LOTS more fun with the one I already have.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-37969024562096989942012-04-16T21:52:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.236-07:00How do you stop a pacifier addiction?This is definitely one of those situations I said I'd never be in. You know, those things you say you'll <i>never</i> do before you've actually become a parent?<br /><br />My daughter never liked pacifiers as an infant. Oh how I wanted her to. But she just spit them out. Always preferring to use me instead.<br /><br />We ended our nursing experience about gosh... Four or five months ago. Could it be that long? I think so.<br /><br /><br />Even still, since then, from time to time she'll give me hints that she remembers the experience--and even seems willing to give it a go again, if I were open to it. Which I'm not. Eew.<br /><br />The last time she nursed I knew it was time to be done because it just didn't feel right anymore. She had gone days without it, then sporadically she tried again and that sweet feeling I use to feel was gone. And I knew we'd never do that again. <br /><br />Sometimes she'll watch me changing and open her mouth like "yea mom, I remember that!" and I'm thinking "child, you crazy." But I know at certain times she misses it more than others. Like when she's sick.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxZHx6X9hO8y26BLe92Jpmh7vUE2YDaozWVdsuDPVTzPVPjRiXhMSWMsD-bHvkgT720IjoY6NAKYBaBrwNPIzWsmI7PJG5990QWF7MiICEnZ9cw4awlh-kAQeGI-zplcuKkKxlzQ6YXCH/s1600/toddler-paci-addiction-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxZHx6X9hO8y26BLe92Jpmh7vUE2YDaozWVdsuDPVTzPVPjRiXhMSWMsD-bHvkgT720IjoY6NAKYBaBrwNPIzWsmI7PJG5990QWF7MiICEnZ9cw4awlh-kAQeGI-zplcuKkKxlzQ6YXCH/s640/toddler-paci-addiction-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>She likes to stand up on the counter tops and choose what snacks she wants to eat from her cupboard. A few weeks ago, the day she threw up before we were leaving for work and school, I stayed home with her. She had opened the cupboard next to hers with the bottles and pacifiers and reached for a paci.<br /><br />I thought nothing of it. It was cute, and she wasn't feeling well so I let her play with it. She mostly chewed on it and didn't seem too extremely amused so I let her hang on to it the whole day.<br /><br />She was able to nap in my arms and stay relatively calm the rest of the day. At first I thought this was because she wasn't feeling well, but I later learned it was a symptom of the binky.<br /><br />It quickly became an addiction of ours more than hers. I'd hand it to her while I prepared her lunch, or if I just wanted to snuggle with her in bed. Otherwise she'd be busy and all over the place, or giving us orders. My husband would use them to get her down for naps so she wouldn't need to cry.<br /><br />The pacifier was good but oh so bad.<br /><br />It's only been a few weeks but this casual toy has turned into a full blown addiction.<br /><br />The other day when my husband and I picked her up from school Lil' J asked:<br />"Binky? Binky?"<br />"Your binky is at home baby, we'll get it after we go to the store ok?" I told her.<br />"Ok."<br />...<br />Second later... <br />"Binky?... Binky?!! BINKYYYYYYYY!!!"<br /><br />Within moments she was hysterical and my husband was detouring to our place to get her dang pacifier so she could calm the freak down.<br /><br />We have become this thing's slave.<br /><br />I had no idea kids could get hooked this late in life. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo-i3k2AOTX7DBfZAFp9blP8RfXytKCcq0uyJOtnTDJ5HplItcxXMqan8vBxlhgVfOhtCDdqlSgO8VaeqbL2vhGfrGGCWldOWSWvq9OveE3SBIXyvfWZv_ZLBi72EN_3RL-2KOZ3L79JT/s1600/toddler-paci-addiction-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo-i3k2AOTX7DBfZAFp9blP8RfXytKCcq0uyJOtnTDJ5HplItcxXMqan8vBxlhgVfOhtCDdqlSgO8VaeqbL2vhGfrGGCWldOWSWvq9OveE3SBIXyvfWZv_ZLBi72EN_3RL-2KOZ3L79JT/s1600/toddler-paci-addiction-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />While this is adorably cute, I know something needs to be done. It won't be good for her pretty teeth, and she's almost two for heaven's sake.<br /><br />Luckily I already have ground-rules in place so this isn't a complete worse-case-scenario. For one, she doesn't get it at bedtime, at school, or when we're playing outside. Basically she only uses it for a little while in the morning (it's the first thing she asks for) and on the ride to and from school. Sometimes she'll sneak in some more paci time on our days off but I've tried to limit that.<br /><br />Now I'm ready to be done completely and I'm thinking our move this week is a great time to kick this bad habit to the curb.<br /><br />Here are my ideas:<br /><br /><b>Plan 1: Throw them all away the day we move</b>. Once we're in the new place and she asks for it, explain they're at the old house and that there are no binkies here.<br />Suffer through a few days of whining.<br /><br /><b>Plan 2: Blame it on the dog.</b> She's seen Snoop go for her toys before, and she knows he's capable of toy destruction. She may understand better if I tell her Snoop ate them and they're all gone.<br />Sure, she may be bitter at him for some time but he can take one for the team.<br /><br /><b>Plan 3: Cut off the nipples.</b> Ouch, that no only sounds painful, it seems the most cruel. She'll get her hopes up only to be completely deflated by a broken binky. I'm not sure I could do this unless I felt like this was somehow humane.<br /><br /><b>Plan 4: Let her trash them</b>. She loves throwing things in the trash and maybe if I tell her to throw them away and that they're "all gone" she'll get it.<br />Then again she may be obsessed with the trash after that and keep getting into it months later thinking her binkies are still in there.<br /><br /><b>Plan 5: "Donate them" to another baby.</b> Let her help me give them to either a neighbor, or a doll, or some baby so she feels like she's a big girl helping someone younger than her who needs it more than she does.<br />I'd like to think she gets some of my sympathetic attributes and that this technique would solve all our problems, however I have a feeling I'm being extremely optimistic.<br /><br /><i><b>What do you think? Have you had experience with dumping pacifiers? I'd love your advice! </b></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-60676951087704004332012-04-13T08:13:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.337-07:00A letter to my pre-mother selfI'm still undecided on my theory of time travel, but just in case, I'm writing a series of letters to my younger self, to help her through some important crossroads. <br /><br />Here's the first. <br /><br /><i>Dear Jennifer:<br /><br />I know you've got a lot on your mind. You're trying to figure out the best way to time it all: Career, family, traveling. And you're plate never seems full enough. <br /><br />How do I know all of this? Because I'm you! An older, and wiser you. <br /><br />Let me tell you woman, your career... You may think you know what you want to do but that's all going to change. Sure, you've wanted to work for CNN your entire life, but there are things coming your way that are going to blow your mind. You don't believe it now, but trust me, in a few years you are going to wonder why CNN was ever appealing to you in the first place. <br /><br />Next, about babies.<br /><br />You look at women around you who swoon and brag bout their kids and wonder what all the fuss is about. Newsflash! Other people's kids aren't as fun as your own.<br /><br />You also hear mothers complain and whine, so you wonder why they KEEP having more kids if it's so bad, and the "hardest job in the world." Here's the thing. Parenting isn't hard labor or rocket science, it's just an incredibly large investment with your heart as collateral. That's what makes it so hard.<br /><br />You think you know love now, but just wait. In fact, knowing what I know now, and how much love all the mothers on the world must have, I'm amazed at how much hatred still exists.<br /><br />I know you are waiting for the perfect time. Waiting for some sign, or obvious signal that THIS IS IT. The RIGHT time to have a baby! But that won't happen. Not in the way you're hoping it will. This is just one of those things you're going to have to go with your gut on. The right time is after unrealistic and somewhere between terrifying and excitement. It's always going to seem a little scary. I only have the one right now and I'm scared to add another to the mix. But I'm more excited than anything else and that mix of emotions seems about right. But back to you... Don't worry, it's all going to be ok. <br /><br />Your husband--my husband a but younger--is going to take some convincing. He's still the same way today. That's just how he is. Don't worry he LOVES being a daddy and is completely smitten by our child. Just today he told me how he's so happy to be a father. He may seem scared out of his mind and completely against it at times, but he'll come around. Keep reminding him how good of a dad he'll be. If I remember correctly, that's what did it. <br /><br />I know you worry most about the permanency of it all. Once you become a mother you are always a mother and can't go back. You can hardly commit to a toothpaste without slight anxiety. I know. I get it! But this is one of those things you won't regret. <br /><br />It'll awaken a side of you you didn't know exist, and open your eyes to a whole new world of possibilities and joy. <br /><br />Jennifer, this is a defining moment in your life and a start of a journey that will put your life in lightening mode. So fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Your Older, Wiser Self</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-31146054082949602232012-04-11T05:23:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.442-07:00Birth control for men: He says/ She says<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtAYFsSyHA4pwf7f1hpSdUDSlTOxbqoSbN_J9J7r_Cb7E-jkoAwJos8o74DN4tfy_pASc8Yn8iG3Z2fDw9D2Zj-ygIV7DuBjiAAcDmMS39hsrNWym34Bd1o5tOZhBeWKDk9LXccxA3msW/s1600/risug+male+birth+control.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtAYFsSyHA4pwf7f1hpSdUDSlTOxbqoSbN_J9J7r_Cb7E-jkoAwJos8o74DN4tfy_pASc8Yn8iG3Z2fDw9D2Zj-ygIV7DuBjiAAcDmMS39hsrNWym34Bd1o5tOZhBeWKDk9LXccxA3msW/s400/risug+male+birth+control.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><strong>She says:</strong> "Hey honey, today I read an article about birth control for men and it was really cool."<br /><strong>He says</strong>: "Oh yea?"<br /><strong>She says:</strong> "Yea, would you do it?"<br /><strong>He says:</strong> "What is it?"<br /><strong>She says:</strong> "Well, you get a shot near your testicle and--"<br /><strong>He says:</strong> "--Oh hell no!"<br /><strong>She says</strong>: "I think it turns your stuff to jelly or something, I don't know, but it's reversible."<br /><strong>He says:</strong> "Yea but what if it doesn't reverse?"<br /><strong>She says:</strong> "I don't know, I guess we could freeze some of your sperm just in case."<br /><br />Turns out, it doesn't turn their stuff to jelly, it just kills the sperm when they pass a non-toxic channel that has magnetic-like components. And after another shot of baking soda and water and the birth control will be flushed out. You can <a href="http://techcitement.com/culture/the-best-birth-control-in-the-world-is-for-men/">read all about it here</a>.<br /><br /><strong><em>What say you? Would your husband do it?</em></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-1219488620703015402012-04-09T10:24:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.544-07:00Homemade Easter Eggs with a Crazy Toddler: What I'm Makin' MondayI'm going to start off with a bit of good old fashioned TMI, for old time's sake. Afterall, this is the stuff I started this blog to write about...<br /><br />Well, I was taking this birth control you see, and it was making me crazy. Not certifiably but I was getting so emotional, and moody, and I was COMPLETELY unmotivated. Yes, I blame my birth control for killing my drive (in more than one way) and making me a lazy blob that goes to bed as early as (GASP) 8:30.<br /><br />So, a week ago I decided to toss it to the curb (yes my husband knows, I'm not going rogue) (and no, I haven't 100% convinced him for #2 yet).<br /><br />Another thing I kicked last week... Caffeine. I didn't drink a lot of it. Mostly just on the weekends for my 4:30am shift, and I'd split a 5-Hour Energy 1/2 Saturday 1/2 Sunday. But I successfully survived my first (half) weekend without it (I was sick Saturday and had a fill-in).<br /><br />All that to say that I'm proud of myself for composing this post at 11:30pm (now 2:10am). I just put Lil' J down for bed at 11:15. No, that is not the norm, but for some reason, tonight I couldn't bear to let her go any earlier.<br /><br />Since I have been going to sleep early, and I already packed my sewing stuff, I'm going to have to get creative with my Makin' Monday posts these next few weeks. This week, I made this silly child one happy girl. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunhjXbWGsd7ikRnyIICSvG9Xm8vtvRLy34ndslPqwFHaeDqr33Cu9l7eMQYjf9759Cm6geqzgbUdo_aEaQzg-rraqVtBVgSuYh9YsXM5u6FcoSpWFLvjt3OC7NhgjrfiaiQWTYFcLpDEx/s1600/easter-2012-with-toddler-10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunhjXbWGsd7ikRnyIICSvG9Xm8vtvRLy34ndslPqwFHaeDqr33Cu9l7eMQYjf9759Cm6geqzgbUdo_aEaQzg-rraqVtBVgSuYh9YsXM5u6FcoSpWFLvjt3OC7NhgjrfiaiQWTYFcLpDEx/s1600/easter-2012-with-toddler-10.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress from Grandma!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The day started Sunday morning around 4am. I got up just before my husband and hurried to get ready for work. The babysitter arrived just before I left and my husband followed shortly behind me.<br /><br />Sadly, this month we've both had to work weekend mornings and the overlap is brutal. Daycare plus a weekend nanny... Not ideal. But during the week we have each been able to spend time more with Lil' J at home.<br /><br />I perused Facebook at work and kept seeing everyone post their adorable Easter photos and talk about the Easter Bunny visiting. I was SO envious. I couldn't wait to get home and go to church and play Easter Bunny with my girl too.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I hadn't done a good job preparing for our fun time ahead. I had already packed/given away our plastic Easter eggs, had no candy, and wasn't sure if we had real eggs in the fridge.<br /><br />I checked during my break and we had just over half a dozen, but they expired February 4th. .... Woops. Oh well, we didn't have to EAT them, just decorate them.<br /><br />One thing I remembered is that we had some egg dye in one of our cupboards from last year that we needed to use or lose before the move. Perfect timing! I set a mental game plan and counted down til I was off work.<br /><br />I went straight to church to meet our nanny and Lil; J. She was in the nursery, so I went to sacrament meeting of another ward to hear the Easter service, and we met up at the end.<br /><br />BINGO! Her nursery teachers handed her three plastic eggs, I had a fourth a friend of mine gave me at work. That would be enough for hunting!<br /><br />When we got home the fun started. I pulled out a pot and the eggs and Lil' J knew we were about to do something fun. She wanted to help in the entire process.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2hzvgHoVZtU2G1QSuB2-U25-2rthbJCEmi-EBuTn0wspnjts-HCgSTx012CJEzdHCv98H2kMlqazpOwh-930UFxScIGdbprO9ua7JInj65rhVDbfOzoSf2vNjuPxilJVbq8sse0Sa-BR/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2hzvgHoVZtU2G1QSuB2-U25-2rthbJCEmi-EBuTn0wspnjts-HCgSTx012CJEzdHCv98H2kMlqazpOwh-930UFxScIGdbprO9ua7JInj65rhVDbfOzoSf2vNjuPxilJVbq8sse0Sa-BR/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-1.jpg" /></a><br />I don't even really know the correct way to boil eggs but I figured since we weren't going to eat these anyway it couldn't hurt if I did it wrong. Lil' J helped me put the eggs in the cool water then I set the pot on the stove to boil. I let it boil for a good half hour while I cleaned off the table and got the dye ready.<br /><br />Sadly, I packed most of our Tupperware too so our dye containers were a nice eclectic assortment of tubs ranging from condiment containers to breastmilk storage cups. Nice.<br /><br />Lil' J repeated the colors after me while I added vinegar and water and kept ooohing and ahhhing as they bubbled (and of course tried to dive out of my arms to stick her finger in them).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWOhStn1FFy1tl7h3b5SJPGfPlOPk1rHTbSAGbh24_Sxh7ulujNkcPXadMzDmOXyTGtOkod31JX-841o1HD2t-eAP6b33GDnlnqwcmTLPKw-o7fsZ_-Z-ZBm_0qFzuxlc9_vQBAJV7UWS/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWOhStn1FFy1tl7h3b5SJPGfPlOPk1rHTbSAGbh24_Sxh7ulujNkcPXadMzDmOXyTGtOkod31JX-841o1HD2t-eAP6b33GDnlnqwcmTLPKw-o7fsZ_-Z-ZBm_0qFzuxlc9_vQBAJV7UWS/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-2.jpg" /></a><br />We let the eggs cool then I asked her which color she wanted to start with.<br /><br />"Boo" she said. Ok, blue. Good choice.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIPK1R6wpaQ7-BnX8L1zQcVDJo970wcF981Pb3-ycT5t33XGpSTbQufTHbV4fxW3DprhTsCIuu5UCbLaJkPZDs4o8xRdIGKMjS8xwnpnKrG4a7ltPRwZI9J77PRPcEBl8cqlXl6m8CfyE/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIPK1R6wpaQ7-BnX8L1zQcVDJo970wcF981Pb3-ycT5t33XGpSTbQufTHbV4fxW3DprhTsCIuu5UCbLaJkPZDs4o8xRdIGKMjS8xwnpnKrG4a7ltPRwZI9J77PRPcEBl8cqlXl6m8CfyE/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-3.jpg" /></a><br />The glitter packets that were in the kit long surpassed their best by date and were all dried out... Sad face!! But she still had fun using the squirt tube things (she was very serious about this).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivFvgd_9hquKIdDSPi9rAO9uHQQ79xSjjnNz3-oLZZo3g6Y8OWJjwSXQksiV63pk4xX4cjaYfwFVzpBiC3np7A5g6mqeS5X7OVbU77zQ_3_rwQtT02OFEN3j-po_BXXt9W_6WLNATyPmu/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivFvgd_9hquKIdDSPi9rAO9uHQQ79xSjjnNz3-oLZZo3g6Y8OWJjwSXQksiV63pk4xX4cjaYfwFVzpBiC3np7A5g6mqeS5X7OVbU77zQ_3_rwQtT02OFEN3j-po_BXXt9W_6WLNATyPmu/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-6.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYrUFJVLxpsGWN1_Imu5K5peXW_UTj3OZ4GciRPgTFKFh_j9UhovL9q8y2qnVNRBu9fqjt8GlM2F10Spq_MzMuvQB7f3hccvZq_sfIUusyLW1JGJcI6cijzmUqPhMEp2rUZpONm8P2rCv/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYrUFJVLxpsGWN1_Imu5K5peXW_UTj3OZ4GciRPgTFKFh_j9UhovL9q8y2qnVNRBu9fqjt8GlM2F10Spq_MzMuvQB7f3hccvZq_sfIUusyLW1JGJcI6cijzmUqPhMEp2rUZpONm8P2rCv/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-5.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzMYJKE7xf9VC7RPh-JOFUfL28RxVaBocpQWN51NPHifi_xswXo5R2nsdckNMkyPBh6EDLBxd6qxaMy9Q8q65CpG59CC3QRsoeRmDz8nVJ2pIs3iXL2MF8RtFC6ARKJMlnoprDPTndsHa/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzMYJKE7xf9VC7RPh-JOFUfL28RxVaBocpQWN51NPHifi_xswXo5R2nsdckNMkyPBh6EDLBxd6qxaMy9Q8q65CpG59CC3QRsoeRmDz8nVJ2pIs3iXL2MF8RtFC6ARKJMlnoprDPTndsHa/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-4.jpg" /> </a>I'm not sure what's wrong with me, but for some reason I expected my one year old to gracefully show me her Easter eggs while I snapped photos.<br /><br />No.<br /><br />She'd pick it up for a moment then drop it on the floor. Where Snoop was waiting, hoping to escape with one.<br /><br />Then I'd flip out.<br /><br />"No!! Be gentle with the pretty eggs!! Don't drop them!! No more!"<br /><br />Lil' J: *Tears* and "AAAHHHs"<br /><br />"Ok fine, but don't drop it ok?"<br /><br />"Ok."<br /><br />*SMASH*<br /><br />*Face to palm*<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1I82op_hYHIPuKgjzq92MBHA3PaVn658EDQ3k0bvNHMYctoZAzk8nSFw4jo4PQlpQiDjknV47oFhZPELcgXrJaQ6YddW08Wb8PGdX6VGlgzWVCGjFu1osGgMFhqWN1D8faqSu8mho3Uk/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-7.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1I82op_hYHIPuKgjzq92MBHA3PaVn658EDQ3k0bvNHMYctoZAzk8nSFw4jo4PQlpQiDjknV47oFhZPELcgXrJaQ6YddW08Wb8PGdX6VGlgzWVCGjFu1osGgMFhqWN1D8faqSu8mho3Uk/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-7.jpg" /></a><br />I asked her to show me the pretty egg, thinking she'd choose her favorite and she picked the blue one, but I snapped the photo just as she let go. Here it is shattered anyway.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdCJmmHlJxtGSOxUaGqGP7-F8X7S0Vb96MQ0jaKTCG2FAaP0eqRZaLIDP276StKoC4KKToLdLRRD1zfl624Xa36viIuFyKqx6Rhxc6rMt-WD-8BIviJrLCSU-PeA110Kx9FnmX0p5PQT5/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdCJmmHlJxtGSOxUaGqGP7-F8X7S0Vb96MQ0jaKTCG2FAaP0eqRZaLIDP276StKoC4KKToLdLRRD1zfl624Xa36viIuFyKqx6Rhxc6rMt-WD-8BIviJrLCSU-PeA110Kx9FnmX0p5PQT5/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-8.jpg" /></a><br />Then I got a grip and just had fun letting her make a mess, dropped eggs and all (though trying to selvage as many as I could for a hunt.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXGEsFBgi1ShG7zUhG_LoeCNaPEMPmALWVuPQr4tRKt-yuDS8GVUvUmo97eAthyphenhyphenVOi5wD5wBPsakW-GIhCP8j66dD8xQLzii5Ewx_GM0ZZNaVfij8lSPltmfY5uo32Tj4JxOy-38NBp69/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-9.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXGEsFBgi1ShG7zUhG_LoeCNaPEMPmALWVuPQr4tRKt-yuDS8GVUvUmo97eAthyphenhyphenVOi5wD5wBPsakW-GIhCP8j66dD8xQLzii5Ewx_GM0ZZNaVfij8lSPltmfY5uo32Tj4JxOy-38NBp69/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-9.jpg" /></a><br />My husband texted me saying he was going to be late, though luckily he was only a couple hours late, and home in plenty of time for an egg hunt. He got her dressed again while I--I mean, the Easter Bunny hid them outside (luckily he makes late afternoon stops for weekend-working parents).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vo7-Q4DtYS8VDp8wjRc24wFuLZ8jjM5Z3rSo0d8OoTePWHpnE-Lmlt1Nq5r2jsMzVX3NWFCQcR_EdU8UbMzZxHmRsm5eYnc2CX9fuBk6eZuNSKBLz2plPV8DHdGdTFtK4M93bUn02aPj/s1600/Easter-2012-hidden-eggs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vo7-Q4DtYS8VDp8wjRc24wFuLZ8jjM5Z3rSo0d8OoTePWHpnE-Lmlt1Nq5r2jsMzVX3NWFCQcR_EdU8UbMzZxHmRsm5eYnc2CX9fuBk6eZuNSKBLz2plPV8DHdGdTFtK4M93bUn02aPj/s1600/Easter-2012-hidden-eggs.jpg" /></a>The eggs were hidden yet somewhat obvious. Tall grass, notches in a tree, between branches on a fallen limb. I figured she'd need help with a few. <br /><br />Now let me tell you, I don't know if she remembers the hunt we went to last year where eggs in front of her were snatched by big kids on the prowl; or if she had practiced hunts at school; or if she just understood when I handed her a basket and said "go find the eggs" but she went to town and snatched them all up on her own, with only a few general direction cues.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIJQTy9Qy0AzWUzrgt8u0aVmVNOqBvvEi1-_1GqVbPsPWGdjcOW_PufvWHf5oFiE-jkCnKlzSls2PsAFmdOA9M9Z5e1mPgkKfJzAM_ajrO6OHEJcYC-EAGnH3Z0NWS33rcklr1KSJTptz/s1600/2012-easter-toddler-running.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIJQTy9Qy0AzWUzrgt8u0aVmVNOqBvvEi1-_1GqVbPsPWGdjcOW_PufvWHf5oFiE-jkCnKlzSls2PsAFmdOA9M9Z5e1mPgkKfJzAM_ajrO6OHEJcYC-EAGnH3Z0NWS33rcklr1KSJTptz/s1600/2012-easter-toddler-running.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXGEsFBgi1ShG7zUhG_LoeCNaPEMPmALWVuPQr4tRKt-yuDS8GVUvUmo97eAthyphenhyphenVOi5wD5wBPsakW-GIhCP8j66dD8xQLzii5Ewx_GM0ZZNaVfij8lSPltmfY5uo32Tj4JxOy-38NBp69/s1600/Easter-2012-with-toddler-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>It wasn't easy capturing pictures of her running around and grabbing eggs, but I got a few decent ones, and some blurry ones that were still too cute to ignore. If anything I'll remember how dang excited she was to hunt for eggs. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVxU78FFDXJpw2RRp9m5AN502OVuvqntljUA5UQmOU8KxwZjiRVnwlZsDAO4SvbkVKEIBBdzD9eCIAgDVLYbM9yBJiIv7pKBKAvPSZqyK3S91HPcqBKvfcw0y-mToxysUbftmCDgkKSNy/s1600/Easter-2012-toddler-hunting.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVxU78FFDXJpw2RRp9m5AN502OVuvqntljUA5UQmOU8KxwZjiRVnwlZsDAO4SvbkVKEIBBdzD9eCIAgDVLYbM9yBJiIv7pKBKAvPSZqyK3S91HPcqBKvfcw0y-mToxysUbftmCDgkKSNy/s1600/Easter-2012-toddler-hunting.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTvS5M2-4OibVXxN6dW0x2vV1Dk80ZujxFYEu69UH5nzNbX24hgzs8tEfHIkMKI10hllEkO41sz_eGSbzM9LGvMT0LX9YEm6X1_9YLffeHJ0veKaDZeQxZUO7SBBsttyneYU3Q5cQl2pM/s1600/2012-easter-basket.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTvS5M2-4OibVXxN6dW0x2vV1Dk80ZujxFYEu69UH5nzNbX24hgzs8tEfHIkMKI10hllEkO41sz_eGSbzM9LGvMT0LX9YEm6X1_9YLffeHJ0veKaDZeQxZUO7SBBsttyneYU3Q5cQl2pM/s1600/2012-easter-basket.jpg" /></a><br />I thought she would be more excited about her purse, I specifically picked out the pre-made, UN-origional, generic basket with a purse because she's always carrying around my purse and she actually just started saying "purse" but she barely wanted anything to do with it. She wanted the eggs and what was inside them.<br /><br />Daddy had no problem obliging. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hzDp1ZIqj1F6JyNlu-eqJ71oD_bteQymbbLzXgvxHNztZU7o3a7qTfR45fNsq-aXSd3awQDgH3ni1mfAv2LZ24-JrvIotPctKGBLNu_NxOE71Qi_Np-wBdkKpViH9d3RDqVvSXs1eAt_/s1600/toddler-eating-easter-candy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hzDp1ZIqj1F6JyNlu-eqJ71oD_bteQymbbLzXgvxHNztZU7o3a7qTfR45fNsq-aXSd3awQDgH3ni1mfAv2LZ24-JrvIotPctKGBLNu_NxOE71Qi_Np-wBdkKpViH9d3RDqVvSXs1eAt_/s1600/toddler-eating-easter-candy.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcytvDN-WMcUbBH4r3SpjnUduB5TfUfVvsPM2ZVeqobBhPfNSaAi-RLsnklSGhfAhKaXIwSMK8AtfkxUWX69_N6CdEf4ggfsweBI0uOn0DW_mpfQ1505mc9hxblSiR8ImZe1DuN439bymC/s1600/toddler-skyping-easter-2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />Then we had a very-not-fancy Easter dinner, and an evening Skyping with long-distance grandparents, aunts and uncles. Good times for sure.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcytvDN-WMcUbBH4r3SpjnUduB5TfUfVvsPM2ZVeqobBhPfNSaAi-RLsnklSGhfAhKaXIwSMK8AtfkxUWX69_N6CdEf4ggfsweBI0uOn0DW_mpfQ1505mc9hxblSiR8ImZe1DuN439bymC/s1600/toddler-skyping-easter-2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcytvDN-WMcUbBH4r3SpjnUduB5TfUfVvsPM2ZVeqobBhPfNSaAi-RLsnklSGhfAhKaXIwSMK8AtfkxUWX69_N6CdEf4ggfsweBI0uOn0DW_mpfQ1505mc9hxblSiR8ImZe1DuN439bymC/s1600/toddler-skyping-easter-2012.jpg" /></a></div>My husband took off for bed before 9 and I decided I wanted a few more snuggles with my crazy bunny. By 11, she was pointing to her room, and jumping into her crib with pleasure. As I rocked her before setting her down I thought what strength it would take to sacrifice my child as God did. Goodness gracious, that's love.<br /><br />It was a long, beautiful, day. One I know I'll always cherish.<br /><br /><i><b>What did you do this Easter?</b></i><br /><br /><i>Just because I didn't make anything crafty doesn't mean I don't want to see your domestic skills. Link up and share!</i><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=136824" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-15657720328047670692012-04-08T09:18:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.654-07:00Happy Easter 2012!<div style="text-align: center;">I'm so happy to hug my family a little tighter this Easter Sunday. And thankful for His sacrifice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UQnLhyphenhyphenB4YRk8_c_I-9sapLW5Y8WSPSQb7pVRUWRpq3_x_MdSWLk6SEkDkMKrqj4d2YBljmr3EP0Np3ArXRQJv70FTVtvqdfAKvQaiRGyW8yYWiYkfYF7XDqurjD3-3vv5vIeQQo1keTT/s1600/mommy-and-me-bluebonnets-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UQnLhyphenhyphenB4YRk8_c_I-9sapLW5Y8WSPSQb7pVRUWRpq3_x_MdSWLk6SEkDkMKrqj4d2YBljmr3EP0Np3ArXRQJv70FTVtvqdfAKvQaiRGyW8yYWiYkfYF7XDqurjD3-3vv5vIeQQo1keTT/s1600/mommy-and-me-bluebonnets-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Easter! From Lil' J and her Mama (and Daddy too although not pictured)!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-2645169333056978852012-04-05T10:40:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:32.972-07:00Need home decorating adviceIn all of the places we've lived and move over 7 years together, I've never been very good at decorating. Go figure. <br /><br />Currently, I have a total of four deorations hanging in my living room, making it look bare. I really want to start fresh at the new place and maybe do a photo-wall or something. I have tens of thousands of photos of Lil, J but no recent ones printed and none hanging at all. <br /><br />I know, it's a disgrace. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft64QcaO6zioirIF5RbhDO5UKIN2a-FGPmTjKTQa5iM6jHaepPwFuC9fRgbW_9ETSk3FNog8cpqo5QLY8s4jGH_SCEAjrcZGNfh3gMXZngECDzzBqQ7JrVVxNv2Y5QT70p_-tLA9Bd1-m/s640/blogger-image--1555333336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft64QcaO6zioirIF5RbhDO5UKIN2a-FGPmTjKTQa5iM6jHaepPwFuC9fRgbW_9ETSk3FNog8cpqo5QLY8s4jGH_SCEAjrcZGNfh3gMXZngECDzzBqQ7JrVVxNv2Y5QT70p_-tLA9Bd1-m/s640/blogger-image--1555333336.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>This is one I'm thinking of blowing up and making a sequence of three similar black/white photos of her.<br /><br />I need to get family photos done so I have some of those to choose from, but I'm waiting for my photographer to stop being pregnant. <br /><br />Then, I need to go through my photos, and print my favorites to hang.<br /><br />I was thinking of getting a bunch of thrifted frames and spray painting them all a similar color scheme. I don't have a livingroom color scheme now ap I'm planning to start fresh. <br /><br />In fact, is it a good idea to donate the few random decorations I have so I 1. Don't have to move them and 2. Don't feel obligated to use them in my new place?<br /><br />I'm not exactly a hoarder but I do get a slight anxiety about getting rid of something. I worry I'll end up needing it tomorrow. The thing that helps is knowing its going to someone who needs it.<br /><br />Pinterest is a good resource but I don't really know where to start. <br /><br />We are going to get new (to us) couches and I'll make curtains. Other than that I haven't a clue how to get the home decorating bug and how to do it right. <br /><br />Start fresh, or bring what I have to start (which isn't much). <br /><br />I'd love to hear your ideas!<br /><br />Also, I have a cool nook area in the livingroom that I'd love to make pretty. What would you put there?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA88NAau11DkID4OYa6p8U8HgmilBNGoJUrD9hhGkHZ7rMcg2VWKxIFCMQ24Ip2kp5uMVer0XgAj3c65KoxNwrdDChHEgt6rLwaHBO_1JiaX5rJzRT3YpVBx7Rq8RnGsSx7N3YRyDEgltB/s640/blogger-image--1952979702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA88NAau11DkID4OYa6p8U8HgmilBNGoJUrD9hhGkHZ7rMcg2VWKxIFCMQ24Ip2kp5uMVer0XgAj3c65KoxNwrdDChHEgt6rLwaHBO_1JiaX5rJzRT3YpVBx7Rq8RnGsSx7N3YRyDEgltB/s640/blogger-image--1952979702.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4He1todyfa-PakyVPU69k123eMRiLSHdxsqkbG43HmpClGOdHTJnSzyKVIF1e_YC7hqgn9Vn-KBOQbF-st9-6F5vd_GJNHt-2gwVlBqWzkwJVmj6QAiKVsvlgjKdvgjFdiQwmp14MI0AK/s640/blogger-image-1371715200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4He1todyfa-PakyVPU69k123eMRiLSHdxsqkbG43HmpClGOdHTJnSzyKVIF1e_YC7hqgn9Vn-KBOQbF-st9-6F5vd_GJNHt-2gwVlBqWzkwJVmj6QAiKVsvlgjKdvgjFdiQwmp14MI0AK/s640/blogger-image-1371715200.jpg" /></a></div>I hope to document my progress and with your help, pull something off that looks somewhat cute.<br /><br />**Added** We are renting, so I'd prefer not to paint and have to re-paint back to white.**Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-69891219102089644022012-04-04T07:03:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:33.070-07:00Being a church leader: He says/ She Says<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL0MmL4lcuGjHc0BNI48TfKIWWqiCii2yfBxzdCERv81ZJzui2ROjMuDB5iPACIrTC_GprAjEdGdIKAaMFo9I_AU0uNjK0eRZh6n6PJsif8xnMrckYTkCG27gfAYHEx_3xdrgNykwdwHV/s1600/Lil'+J+blessing+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL0MmL4lcuGjHc0BNI48TfKIWWqiCii2yfBxzdCERv81ZJzui2ROjMuDB5iPACIrTC_GprAjEdGdIKAaMFo9I_AU0uNjK0eRZh6n6PJsif8xnMrckYTkCG27gfAYHEx_3xdrgNykwdwHV/s640/Lil'+J+blessing+day.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flashback to Lil' J's blessing day.</td></tr></tbody></table><strong>She says:</strong> "I went to a friend's house for lunch and she was just called to be Relief Society president." <br /><strong>He says:</strong> "Wow, that's cool."<br /><strong>She says:</strong> "Yea, it is. And another lady at the lunch party's husband is a bishop. What if you were bishop some day?"<br /><strong>He says:</strong> "HA! That would never happen."<br /><strong>She says:</strong> "Well maybe, some day."<br /><strong>He says:</strong> "Maybe. That would be the coolest church ever. But then I'd get released in about a week."<br /><br /><em>Translations for people who aren't familiar with LDS terms: "Ward" is our congregation. "Relief Society President" is like the leader for the women in our congregation. And a Bishop is our congregation leader.</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-23174781989673697762012-04-02T09:42:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:33.166-07:00What did I make this week? Plus an Announcement!What did I craft or cook up this week? Nothing. Absolutely NADA. Unless you count turkey sandwiches, but I didn't take photos so I'm not sure that counts. <br /><br />It's ok though. It's been one of those weeks. I'm working 6 days in a row, and feeling worn out to the max. BUT there are some good things happening. <br /><br />Lil' J is OBSESSED with buses. She yells and points every time we pass one like she's trying to catch it. We've taken the bus to the park three times now and she asks about them daily. I have tons of pictures I need to share and blog about this cheap fun idea but until then, here's a few of our most recent trip taking a bus to a concert.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtlIch97c7DaTuOFcN5b7s06qEVGr4Sgwl5ywRpJgwtUL7JPGLa3AmIucrrgoqQ1mVD2SQrfndsRgQy7AmZ0iTILzmIl0tQTjAsE5yLTIEYpZKL28AkilZaewd06RlqaYycQbS9P669Q_/s1600/bus-ride-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtlIch97c7DaTuOFcN5b7s06qEVGr4Sgwl5ywRpJgwtUL7JPGLa3AmIucrrgoqQ1mVD2SQrfndsRgQy7AmZ0iTILzmIl0tQTjAsE5yLTIEYpZKL28AkilZaewd06RlqaYycQbS9P669Q_/s1600/bus-ride-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting at the bus stop.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1SpoWxFm_LcnM8BHdVqpRykLHorV0k-4zYdoZ1Ql-_nCTO4MFx71yJibFqbrSKqOEgYabW-gIUQerJImddwgaiKrqkJL6r-xGxOpD7ipoOfAwFvdxQTY4LZH3JssfDKsLE_D5f08E86B/s1600/riding-bus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1SpoWxFm_LcnM8BHdVqpRykLHorV0k-4zYdoZ1Ql-_nCTO4MFx71yJibFqbrSKqOEgYabW-gIUQerJImddwgaiKrqkJL6r-xGxOpD7ipoOfAwFvdxQTY4LZH3JssfDKsLE_D5f08E86B/s1600/riding-bus1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking herself out in the driver's mirror.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIhHGbXp3CgabGhXdFeLt4QLuEW4XDHf1Pc1ne0fCMnEghK57LStfHYuzgcagUlvTQayLkS4ARKYMNNgM2PvH_RZn_O2k2A3AYfRggnbxOlcS4OYwBSewAjQQuEnve1tFQ3quF4oqcgZL/s1600/bus-ride-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIhHGbXp3CgabGhXdFeLt4QLuEW4XDHf1Pc1ne0fCMnEghK57LStfHYuzgcagUlvTQayLkS4ARKYMNNgM2PvH_RZn_O2k2A3AYfRggnbxOlcS4OYwBSewAjQQuEnve1tFQ3quF4oqcgZL/s1600/bus-ride-3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"WEE!"</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Lka2ymV2pFt3tZrjlX4aqpzTBDugpi-RDR_SGE_XkH6xB9nLnS_pCULx8d7l-uO9tix4l08ViHBJ-aBa-iMcARmVoYqo3TUhyLP77E71XK81jahWAvXCeBrHKDYt6z91OfX-Fk4JclMP/s1600/boyz-II-men-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Lka2ymV2pFt3tZrjlX4aqpzTBDugpi-RDR_SGE_XkH6xB9nLnS_pCULx8d7l-uO9tix4l08ViHBJ-aBa-iMcARmVoYqo3TUhyLP77E71XK81jahWAvXCeBrHKDYt6z91OfX-Fk4JclMP/s1600/boyz-II-men-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shawn from Boyz II Men</td></tr></tbody></table>The concert we were riding to see? Boyz II Men! Saturday night we had VIP clearance at the Austin Urban Music Festival. I was literally a couple of feet away from touching Shawn, my longest-lasting crush. I told Lil' J to waive at him. She was watching the whole thing from my backpack carrier. More on this later!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDrR0z0Dikb1XGXEEigLR1DWpPpTvxFw1FSAQ3Jzk5Cht7Z0DzTfu6cfIvlBFp8AkSwdJ4aQ0U8f37iVz0GAWvQlMG3aJc4Z3-Tb6c8dbj7Er4RFZZNtuazJCnfrRujx8WIN_kbgN4iLd/s1600/Boyz-II-Men-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDrR0z0Dikb1XGXEEigLR1DWpPpTvxFw1FSAQ3Jzk5Cht7Z0DzTfu6cfIvlBFp8AkSwdJ4aQ0U8f37iVz0GAWvQlMG3aJc4Z3-Tb6c8dbj7Er4RFZZNtuazJCnfrRujx8WIN_kbgN4iLd/s1600/Boyz-II-Men-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a look for herself.</td></tr></tbody></table>Another positive? I picked up the keys to our new place yesterday. I still haven't packed a single box but we have a month of overlap so I'm not exactly freaking out yet. <br /><br />I have a strange impulse to collect as many boxes as I can, before packing any. *shrug*<br /><br />And finally, for the announcement...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.parenting.com/blogs/365-moments"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm79JAJGbGw_w6bQeRjUQKmgs59MfV9LC6XPU3lkANxNUuU_N7mN0FpkNbAuYW0OwIaMQSc08p0qTCRPy4KUfv0hQUvVPex8t-iqxpWmHAvsAiWmxoKtZqJ6tsgmjualU7kgdlMqr_Rjf/s1600/Parentings+the+moment.JPG" /></a></div>I hinted to an exciting project I've been working on for months, long ago. Today it launched on <a href="http://www.parenting.com/moment">Parenting.com</a> and it's sponsored by Hallmark. I haven't been doing my 365 Love Letters on this here blog because I've been working on capturing <a href="http://www.parenting.com/blogs/365-moments/">365 Moments</a> there. I'm so excited and I hope you'll follow along and even <a href="http://www.parenting.com/mosaic">add your own photos</a> capturing special moments in your family's life. One could even be published in Parenting Magazine! I'm crossing my fingers I'll get to see Lil' J in there one of these days.<br /><br />I imagine a lot of photos coming up will be of moving boxes. OY!<br /><br />Just because I didn't make anything crafty doesn't mean I don't want to see your domestic skills. Link up and share!<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=136824" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-42817552349739864322012-03-30T09:03:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:33.270-07:00Prissy girl goes messy<div style="text-align: center;">My girl is ALL GIRL. She doesn't like getting dirty, she loves twirling in dresses, and she gets upset if she gets dirt, sand, or food stuck on her hands. She walks up to me and asks me to brush it off. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So imagine my surprise when I turned around and saw that she got into a chocolate snack and was happy about it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to laugh when she started licking her hands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW4ChhseSxs-K8FC-xovlxeH0h9z3MX6oOAFb1_oYgfFf3MmCLPhfyzAB0zwgjBkKjEbF7sgStA3BzlR9Q0cfpUhVoL-ehR3NVnJGKqVNWtBD3If5J8yNB9SRXDc5la4vz0Rj8rKQ_48k/s640/blogger-image--15763473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW4ChhseSxs-K8FC-xovlxeH0h9z3MX6oOAFb1_oYgfFf3MmCLPhfyzAB0zwgjBkKjEbF7sgStA3BzlR9Q0cfpUhVoL-ehR3NVnJGKqVNWtBD3If5J8yNB9SRXDc5la4vz0Rj8rKQ_48k/s640/blogger-image--15763473.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh my sweet child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Friday!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-73995924761419446552012-03-29T09:10:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:33.371-07:00Love babies too? Help save some.I'll never forget the night I had my daughter and those special moments we had our first few days together. In my birth plan--or a I called it my "<a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-birth-wishes-letter.html">birth wishes</a>"--, there were a few things I knew wanted to happen without a doubt. I knew I wanted to have fun, I wanted my husband to cut the cord, and that my daughter would get a pulse ox screening.<br /><br />A pulse ox screening? What's that? I didn't know myself until a few months prior to having my daughter. I met a woman online, a woman on a mission to save babies after losing her own.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r423iLW1h2I_vD-4ZyHJjKhU2c8OI0H5MJfqZoFyaUqEMRMoEHW-gVZeGdDhxcSJDvLHpbzaXr_qdaQKuiNY7biyEchEshF6ZafZhhBnC22YIq6uTAE2CUbjFLnjQjM0uyOBTRsSVGCw/s1600/lil-j-and-mommy-newborn.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r423iLW1h2I_vD-4ZyHJjKhU2c8OI0H5MJfqZoFyaUqEMRMoEHW-gVZeGdDhxcSJDvLHpbzaXr_qdaQKuiNY7biyEchEshF6ZafZhhBnC22YIq6uTAE2CUbjFLnjQjM0uyOBTRsSVGCw/s1600/lil-j-and-mommy-newborn.jpg" /></a><br />This mother's story touched me. She had a normal pregnancy, like I had, and a normal birth, like I hoped to have. And her baby Cora was big and plump, just like mine was. She lost her 5-day-old baby in her arms, without warning.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.corasstory.org/">Kristine</a> sent me some pamphlets with helpful information about the Pulse Oximetry Screening, which is a simple test that can help detect congenital heart diseases, one of the leading birth defects.<br /><br />As I held my newborn in my arms at the hospital I thought of Kristine and her efforts to help new mothers like myself. I immediately asked the nurse when they could give my daughter a pulse ox screening. She asked another nurse, who said she didn't need one, she was healthy, had a great apgars, but I insisted. The on-call pediatrician (Lil' J was born over a holiday weekend) asked why I wanted one so bad, and I told her about my friend who had shared her story with me. I guess it was a good enough answer for her because she gave the go-ahead for the test.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnu4OBhyNGvJ6kWe0m6K-tj6R-crVNf2H82Wi29QABAxXOI1L9anXq1AdDWQ4AGu21riokDo7fbllFo9Z2EubKMU5nOkcY4Ai17VgLVd7d56JukFuYmlHOtkldfp7jDZAfw9sdOQzwjTC/s1600/lil-j-newborn-testing-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnu4OBhyNGvJ6kWe0m6K-tj6R-crVNf2H82Wi29QABAxXOI1L9anXq1AdDWQ4AGu21riokDo7fbllFo9Z2EubKMU5nOkcY4Ai17VgLVd7d56JukFuYmlHOtkldfp7jDZAfw9sdOQzwjTC/s1600/lil-j-newborn-testing-1.jpg" /></a><br />No needles or probes were needed. Just a little band around her foot. I didn't encounter an out-of-pocket bill, but the peace of mind that came when it was done, and they told me her results were normal, was priceless.<br /><br />Right now only two states have routine pulse ox screenings hospitals. A lot of people don't even know or understand the importance of newborn screening. If you'd like to <a href="http://www.savebabies.org/blog/bloggers/">learn how you can help</a>, or to get more information on newborn screenings for you, your family and friends, visit <a href="http://savebabies.org/">SaveBabies.org</a>. And spread the word. The more people who know about this, the better.<br /><br />I'm so grateful for <a href="http://www.corasstory.org/">Kristine</a>, for all of the help she's done for families, and for spreading awareness of screenings which have literally saved babies lives. I still hold my daughter now and think of her, and her daughter, and how they've forever left a mark in our lives.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">*I was asked to share my story and experience about newborn screenings in a compensated blogger outreach program. I decided to share my story about her pulse ox test because it was especially important to me. I hope you'll take a few moments to visit their website and learn more.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">** Yes, looking through these old photos totally made me cry. Time to switch the machine back on!</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372510680255634675.post-79675746309179333952012-03-28T21:24:00.000-07:002012-06-11T04:09:33.466-07:00I sold my car to buy an iPadIt's true.<br /><br />I know, it sounds crazy. But let me explain...<br /><br />June 2004 I moved to Utah to go to the school of my dreams. Without family. With hardly any money, and car-less.<br /><br />"You don't need a car in college," my parents told me. So they kept the car I knew as mine (and paid for) during high school.<br /><br />It was true. I didn't really <i>need</i> a car. I lived on campus that summer. One of my roommates had a car, and I got a bus pass to take occasional trips to the mall.<br /><br />A few weeks in to my new Utah experience I met a guy, and said guy had a car. Score! It wasn't fancy... At all. It was a 1992 Honda Accord, but it drove, and that's all one needed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr0O3vdKBEtAnl9V2hmH6L9rmzgTs-y9RyNS46F0MiQBVhZBDGMV58L6uWbLDzaq8SGkpcdfLnY4k5DZVBs9NJZlPIhLB9jRI7G1DQuQt2bvzMJoVVCcAyD22oGAQSiywa125-qazyy2Y/s1600/boyfriend+with+a+car.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr0O3vdKBEtAnl9V2hmH6L9rmzgTs-y9RyNS46F0MiQBVhZBDGMV58L6uWbLDzaq8SGkpcdfLnY4k5DZVBs9NJZlPIhLB9jRI7G1DQuQt2bvzMJoVVCcAyD22oGAQSiywa125-qazyy2Y/s1600/boyfriend+with+a+car.jpg" /></a></div><br />A few dates in this guy became my boyfriend, and things got serious pretty fast. That was the good news. The bad news was he was about to move three-and-a-half hours away to go to another college, where he had a golf scholarship. How in the world would we see each other?<br /><br />I needed a car.<br /><br />But I had no money. No job, just student loans. So he lent me $500... It was a down payment for a car, which he helped me pick out. He didn't co-sign though (probably smart).<br /><br />I wanted something sporty and snazzy, but he said something practical and inexpensive was smarter. <br /><br />With his help, I bought a 1996 Toyota Corolla for less than $3,000.<br /><br />Now I <i>had</i> to marry him.<br /><br />Kidding. ... Well, I <i>DID</i> marry him, but not just because I owed him $500.<br /><br />I paid off the car in less than a year, and we (mostly he) drove that thing into the ground. During the second year the air conditioning went out. I remember going out to lunch in the St. George heat with a co-worker, who purposely turned my broken A/C on (which blew hot air) to see if it could possibly get even hotter.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWtIWReuwFpIfCjD-GQCvvhWM6F1BEJg3NvHsmSdwpKL-FuxUC5ooOIK3XFv-0IYH2hlc5Y2YmO4snedSTM0yOIHKUgcJ9uyAkS3iRWO83rhHvy4JiGpvEIUNv2cQeCih84txvYCDMJmz/s1600/old-faithful-1996-corolla.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWtIWReuwFpIfCjD-GQCvvhWM6F1BEJg3NvHsmSdwpKL-FuxUC5ooOIK3XFv-0IYH2hlc5Y2YmO4snedSTM0yOIHKUgcJ9uyAkS3iRWO83rhHvy4JiGpvEIUNv2cQeCih84txvYCDMJmz/s1600/old-faithful-1996-corolla.jpg" /></a><br />I ran into the back of a car once, and a metal pole twice--constantly knocking off the same pesty headlight, and bending the hood. The front bumper to this day has a zip tie holding it to the rest of the car.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3-7ywrl0uM1N3Cb6I4NN1hyphenhyphenmk-B2nffhGJ1REEidqNb9OEv7OhdfqyZJ3j2jAJHtw42TTx0yU2r_vxfeD7yZYJ9yrO81F8Jkd2FuNIskV44wDXVYIul6n8LB7hS_oiE6Jq-NIu9hC_dI/s1600/jacked-bumper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3-7ywrl0uM1N3Cb6I4NN1hyphenhyphenmk-B2nffhGJ1REEidqNb9OEv7OhdfqyZJ3j2jAJHtw42TTx0yU2r_vxfeD7yZYJ9yrO81F8Jkd2FuNIskV44wDXVYIul6n8LB7hS_oiE6Jq-NIu9hC_dI/s1600/jacked-bumper.jpg" /></a><br />In 2006 we traded our '92 Accord for a '04. We were finally moving up. But we kept pushing our little faithful Corolla to stay with us. And she did.<br /><br />Side by side there was no question, our new Honda was worlds better, smoother, and much more appealing than our Corolla. Which is why we are still confused as to why someone decided to bust into Old Faithful, and rip her radio out. Really? Do people still do this? Apparently so.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oxuLNT_gXEPZpY5jxzhG1XvPKabwy5BbCOAW1BLIkGOse9tTEb-e9uVqwH7iqcFl5hSYzbVvZxnbUFuhmCrEEAfIVNjYTM-HXa6euu0tYzswJag8Our_aRNj5spC4z6FANBekualnp6w/s1600/jacked-radio.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oxuLNT_gXEPZpY5jxzhG1XvPKabwy5BbCOAW1BLIkGOse9tTEb-e9uVqwH7iqcFl5hSYzbVvZxnbUFuhmCrEEAfIVNjYTM-HXa6euu0tYzswJag8Our_aRNj5spC4z6FANBekualnp6w/s1600/jacked-radio.jpg" /></a><br />But she kept going.<br /><br />Eventually her paint started to show her age, and her pieces started falling apart. Particularly her inside door handle. We could only get out by rolling down the window.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZODtlmR_6NosUo3gu7jhmFAePlAqUfNIvAEV9C-pefuQbILQ0r1vG71hBs9vBwqw-nZxISlK-xta2gns9yNWreIDmWBG5NXYyMEBncENkYhXgvlzMTA_RdGQad9mvnVNOA7qZn4W3vFLB/s1600/ghetto-car.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZODtlmR_6NosUo3gu7jhmFAePlAqUfNIvAEV9C-pefuQbILQ0r1vG71hBs9vBwqw-nZxISlK-xta2gns9yNWreIDmWBG5NXYyMEBncENkYhXgvlzMTA_RdGQad9mvnVNOA7qZn4W3vFLB/s1600/ghetto-car.jpg" /></a><br />Classy.<br /><br />Finally, after more than seven years of marriage, an opportunity presented itself and it was time for an upgrade. Corolla for Corolla we moved up to a 2007, and bought Old Faithful's younger brother named Buzz Lightyear (By my husband's sister. This car has a whole 'nother back story that I'll have to let her tell sometime.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQjKhrfju7fR8M0yp2GsniUyY_rVvhWP3C4ox0iY9ln7e4hOC33WiiYcqYrDvgj9fBQpJdWcYRnRPQ1B-otAhaE6YuEeyxTMjRjGF3Yc-dQlHu01pk-I7JFlSCWu-SwT_b9AL4qZgJ9ut/s1600/2007-toyota-corolla-buzz-lightyear.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQjKhrfju7fR8M0yp2GsniUyY_rVvhWP3C4ox0iY9ln7e4hOC33WiiYcqYrDvgj9fBQpJdWcYRnRPQ1B-otAhaE6YuEeyxTMjRjGF3Yc-dQlHu01pk-I7JFlSCWu-SwT_b9AL4qZgJ9ut/s1600/2007-toyota-corolla-buzz-lightyear.jpg" /></a>For a few weeks we had three cars. But who needs three cars? Actually we did one day when Buzz' battery died and Old Faithful lived up to her name once again.<br /><br />Finally, we decided it was time for her to go to a better home.<br /><br />Given all of her per-existing conditions we decided it would be best to list her for $900 on Craigslist. The response was overwhelming. Within minutes we had a dozen emails. Many from men named "Jose". My husband went down the list and the first person to answer came to get her for $900. I thought she was worth at least $1000 because she runs great, but good karma is never a bad thing.<br /><br />I knew all along I wanted to use the proceeds for an iPad. It was a part of our deal--My husband and I. And my reward for surviving his academy the last 8 months.<br /><br />I didn't get the new one. The savings matter more to me than having the latest and greatest fad. I got a 32gb iPad 2, refurbished, and saved $200.<br /><br />What are we doing with the other half of the money? My husband wants a gun.<br /><br />Trading our car for an iPad and a gun, now that's a true American family for ya.<br /><br />Seven years, half a dozen road trips, five moves, and one voyage across the country later, she's moved on to another family who will hopefully fix her up, and not sell her for parts. For me, I'll always remember Old Faithful, and every time I pick up my iPad I'll think of her. Let's hope her spirit was reincarnated into my new shiny toy, and that she proves to be just as loyal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0